PART 1 - WHAT MAKES A SAFE ROOFER?

When it comes to home improvement, most homeowners are only concerned about things such as overall cost, energy efficiency, and what their home will look like afterwards. However, if you’re planning to have professionals do some work on your roof you should always prioritize safety.

Safety isn't just about avoiding accidents; Safety also includes protecting the rest of your property, and even the people you hire. Safety doesn’t just prevent injuries or deaths; it also prevents unnecessary expenses and saves you time.

Being safe with roof projects starts when you hire the roofers. You need to look for factors that give assurance that the people you hire are capable of working on your roof with the least amount of risk involved. Here’s a quick rundown of the factors that I’m talking about.

SAFE ROOFERS HAVE SAFETY TOOLS

What’s the difference between a safe roofer and an unsafe one when they slip and fall while on the job? The safe roofer slides down a bit, still tethered to a safety anchor, while the unsafe one is lucky if he gets away with minor bruises. Make sure the roofer you choose has the right safety equipment: helmets, gloves, goggles, etc.

PART 1 - WHAT MAKES A SAFE ROOFER?

SAFE ROOFERS HAVE SAFE TOOLS

Safety also includes the non-safety equipment they have. Power tools are great time savers, but an electric drill with a loosely treaded drill bit can be very dangerous. Other things to check out are corded electrical equipment (exposed wires can burn or electrocute someone) or rickety stepladders. Sure, it’s rare for a homeowner to check a roofer’s tools, but it’s better not to take any chances.

SAFE ROOFERS HAVE EXPERIENCE

The more experienced the roofers are, the more comfortable they become at moving around uneven surfaces and less chances of fumbling. If you can, do a background check on the people that you hire. They don’t have to be in the business for decades, but make sure that you’re not hiring someone that has never been on a roof!

PART 2 - SAFETY TOOLS MAKE FOR SAFE ROOFERS

In order to avoid all sorts of injuries and property damage, professional roofers must use a series of safety equipment. You’ll probably notice that some of these are also used by professionals in other construction-related jobs, and for good reason: they really work! When looking for professional roofers to hire, make sure these safety tools are part of their equipment.

SAFETY HAT

Big, round and tough, nothing offers better head protection to a professional roofer than the safety hat, or hard hat, especially in an environment that features plenty of objects that can fall from at least eight feet. You want your roofers to have safety hats that are free of cracks or distortions that could compromise its protective functions.

SAFETY GLOVES

Roofing projects involve plenty of sharp things that come uncomfortably close to the hands such as nails, power tools, wood splinters, and others. Aside from being tough enough to resist puncturing, safety gloves also help cushion the blow of the occasional missed strike of a hammer. Most safety gloves also have rubber pads that help improve grip and prevent electrocution.

PART 2 - SAFETY TOOLS MAKE FOR SAFE ROOFERS

SAFETY GOGGLES

Small shards of glass, shingles, or wood shards can easily get into the eyes, potentially causing eye injury. Safety goggles keep those things out of the roofer’s eyes without obstructing their view. Impact goggles must be impact resistant since fragile ones are also likely to cause injury if something causes them to shatter.

TETHER AND TETHER PLATE

Also known as, the safety rope, the tether is connected to the roofer’s harness, and serves as the literal lifeline of a roofer working at roof altitude. In case of a slip, the tether (attached to the tether plate firmly secured on the roof ) prevents the roofer from falling from the roof and minimizes injuries.

SAFETY BOOTS

The roof has so many things that can punch through regular sneakers if stepped on, so safety boots are necessary for any professional roofer. Safety boots have extra thick soles, and are also treaded to provide extra grip to minimize slipping. Steel-toed safety boots provide extra protection against things that might fall on a roofer’s foot.

PART 3 - SAFE ROOFING PROJECTS: DOING YOUR PART

While keeping the entire roofing project safe is a major responsibility for professional roofers, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have a part in ensuring the safety of everyone. Here are a few things that you can do to make your roofing project risk-free.

CLEAN YOUR YARD

If there’s one thing that usually gets in the way of safe roofing projects, it’s unnecessary clutter. Many roofers have had their work hindered by things that are out of place such as a fallen branch lying around or a rake that can be stepped on by accident. As a homeowner, you have to make sure that the area around the house is free from clutter, especially the site where ladders would be placed.

ORIENT YOUR HOUSEHOLD

Children are naturally curious, but curiosity can be a bad thing especially when there’s roof work involved. Before the roofers start their work on your roof, have a brief talk about how children should behave when the project is ongoing. Older members of the household should at least be notified when the roofing team is scheduled to arrive, and how long the work is expected to take.

PART 3 - SAFE ROOFING PROJECTS: DOING YOUR PART

SECURE ANY PETS

Some pets can get very nervous when other people are around, especially guard dogs. Make sure that pets are properly secured when the roofing process starts. If your pet is allowed indoors, it’s better if they stay inside the entire time to prevent them from possibly knocking over a ladder or worse, attacking a roofer! Outdoor pets can be leashed or put in the cage to prevent them from running around.

SUPERVISE CLEANUP

Believe it or not, some roofing accidents occur well after the project is finished. This is because a roofer might forget to pick up a nail or someone left a spare shingle or two on the roof. Be around when the roofers are clearing the area, and make sure that everything is properly disposed of or packed once the project is finished.

Taking extra safety precautions may seem like a lot of trouble, but the potential injuries and hassles caused by minor accidents make it worth the effort. That wraps up this eBook, and we hope you stay safe!

UP AND ABOVE CONTRACTORS, LLC

2 LOWER HILL RDNEWTON, NJ 07860

(973) 300-0636

UPANDABOVECONTRACTORS.COM