Your residential roofing contractor has a big responsibility: They must execute roof repairs and replacement and keep their team members safe throughout the project.
Working on a steep roof comes with unique dangers, and responsible contractors take these threats seriously. Working on a roof involves many challenges, and companies must take steps to minimize danger for their workers.
Dangers Roofers Face
First of all, a residential roofing contractor will investigate the structural stability of the roof. They must determine if the roof is strong enough to hold the weight of the workers before they begin the project. A roof collapse could be deadly as well as damaging to the home.
Icy or wet roofs are even more dangerous than dry ones. Also, the steeper the pitch, the riskier the job. Workers who are allowed on the project must have the appropriate training. Safety equipment is necessary, but so is constant awareness of surroundings. Workers who aren’t prepared for the physical demands can injure themselves and others.
OSHA’s Recommendations
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends that all employers have workers go through safety training before they are allowed on a job site. OSHA suggests building stable scaffolding platforms where workers can stand while accessing the roof. This allows them to complete a portion of the project without standing on the roof. Mobile scaffolds, or lifts, are also approved ways to work at the roof’s edge.
Besides independent, stable scaffolding, OSHA recommends that workers be provided with a personal fall arrest system (PFAS) when they are working higher up on the roof’s pitch. The PFAS protects workers with three major parts: an anchor, a lanyard and a full-body harness.
Hire Responsible Roofing Contractors
As a homeowner, you may be concerned with the quality of the roofing materials, but think carefully before hiring a roofer without a license or insurance. It’s best to trust a residential roofing contractor that makes safety a priority, and it can be seen in the details.
Workers should wear hard hats and rubber-soled boots. They should secure their ladders and stay organized throughout the project. Fall protection should be a major focus, whether through the use of scaffolding or personal fall arrest systems.
When your residential roofing contractor takes care of its employees, you can be sure that they will provide a high-quality result for you too. And when they’re licensed and insured, they have agreed to abide by safety standards that protect their workers. If an injury occurs on your property, you won’t be liable.
Work with a residential roofing contractor that believes safety comes first: Contact the Roof Doctor today and trust that your home — and your re-roofing project — is in caring, responsible hands.