What is classed as a fragile roof?

What is the definition of a fragile surface and how can we determine whether or not a roof is fragile? A roof should always be treated as fragile until a competent person has agreed otherwise. Fragility may be caused by: general deterioration of the roof through ageing, neglect and lack of maintenance or weather damage.

What are your legal responsibilities when working on roof?

a. The person who is in control of a workplace is responsible for ensuring that the access from the ground to the work area on the roof is safe and without risk to health. Access requirements should take into account any tools and equipment the roof worker may be required to carry to and from the work site.

How often do roofers fall through the roof?

About 50 roofers are killed on the job each year, most by falls (chart 1). The information in government reports suggests that inadequate fall protection is responsible for most of the fatal falls. Note: A total of 359 deaths was analyzed for the seven years. Yearly numbers do not add up to 51 because of rounding.

What is the best way to stop people falling through fragile roof panels?

Kee Cover is a mesh cover that protects workers against falls through fragile roof lights. The mesh panel top sits onto a metal frame made from Kee Klamp fittings and tube. Kee Cover is suited to metal profile roofs where inline roof level skylights are common.

How do fragile roofs work?

Control: Work on or near fragile surfaces requires a combination of stagings, guard rails, fall restraint, fall arrest and safety nets slung beneath and close to the roof. Communication: Warning notices must be fixed on the approach to any fragile surface.

Is it illegal to work on a roof without scaffolding?

Roofing repairs do not always need to be done by a professional but they nonetheless pose difficulties when it comes to both access and safety. Much of the official health and safety advice states that, for any domestic roof repairs, scaffolding is needed.

Can you work on a roof without edge protection?

Roof edges and openings You must also fit edge protection to the eaves of any roof and on terraced properties to the rear as well as the front. Where work is of short duration (tasks measured in minutes), properly secured ladders to access the roof and proper roof ladders may be used.

Why is roofing so dangerous?

It’s bad enough that a fall might kill you, but roofers face a whole host of other on-the-job hazards as well. Burns from volatile tars and chemicals, electrocution from contact with exposed power lines, and injuries from falling tiles and other roofing debris are just a few of the risks roofers face each day.

What would happen if you fell off a roof?

What Happens if You Fall off a Roof? Many accident victims falling off a roof experience broken bones, intense pain, internal bleeding, organ damage, head trauma, or death. The impact of an injured party slamming their head against any surface could cause head trauma, traumatic brain injury, or a broken neck.

What are the risks of falling on a roof?

High elevations, unprotected roof edges and steep slopes all pose fall risks. Those risks may be increased by other factors, such as wind and wet surfaces; equipment misuse or failure, particularly involving ladders; and unsafe behavior on the part of workers.

How to prevent falls from flat roof edges?

Flat roofs: falls from flat roof edges can be prevented by simple edge protection arrangements – a secure double guardrail and toeboard around the edge. Always follow a safe system of work using a platform beneath the roof where possible.

Which is the best way to access a roof?

Safe access to a roof requires careful planning, particularly where work progresses along the roof. Typical methods to access roofs are: roof access hatches. Falls from roof edges occur on both commercial and domestic projects and on new build and refurbishment jobs.

How tall does a roof have to be to not need fall protection?

However, fall protection would still be required for work on roof-top equipment/design features at heights greater than 6 feet, over the edge of the parapet, on the face of the building, and for work near unguarded roof openings and skylights.

Can you fall off the side of a roof?

If this restriction is violated, then a user runs the risk of sliding or falling off the side of the roof. SIDENOTE: If the work takes more than four hours, it is preferred to use collective fall protection systems (such as guardrails) in addition to individual fall protection equipment.

What do you need to know about roof fall protection?

Protecting roof edges is only one part of a complete roof fall protection solution. Access ladders, walkways with guardrails, hatch fall protection systems, skylight screens and guards, as well as cross over steps and platforms to eliminate tripping hazards and provide safe means of access are all part of a comprehensive roof fall hazard abatement.

How to protect employees from falling from roofs?

The first step in protection employees from falls from roofs is to perform a hazard assessment to identify the job tasks, means of access and areas that may expose someone to a fall. A site visit by one of our qualified fall protection system experts is a good start in help identify the areas where fall protection is needed.

Where is the danger zone on a sloping roof?

In other words: users must always access the roof from the side that’s opposite from the side that’s closest to the anchor point. Also, they must never go near the ridge. Users must never be close to the sides of the roof – this is where the danger zone is located.