When you are completing roof repairs on a commercial or residential property, health and safety should always be a top consideration. Before you start to think about the changes you are making or the materials that you are going to use, you need to consider how to keep the people involved in the workplace safe.
This will often lead to people considering whether they need to use roof scaffolding company for roof repairs. The benefit of avoiding scaffolding is likely obvious. It can lower the cost of repairs and the time it takes to complete the full project. However, scaffolding can provide the extra safety you need. This can be crucial whether you are completing a project as part of a crew or as a DIY exercise.
If you are opting to DIY, then it’s crucial to understand the dangers and the importance of roof safety. Specifically, it’s worth noting that nearly 40% of construction fatalities are due to roof falls. You might assume that these were from a great height. However, of 647 fatal falls in 2014, 340 were from less than 20 feet. So, how do you know whether roof scaffolding is going to be the right choice for you?
Roof scaffolding is not technically a legal requirement when you are completing roof work. However, if you have 4 or more employees working on a roof, then you will need to complete both a health and safety policy as well as a risk assessment. Often, this is going to result in the conclusion that scaffolding is necessary.
On the other hand, if there are going to be fewer than four workers, then you might be able to simply use a ladder. Be aware though that it is important that this ladder is secured properly. Plenty of accidents occur from DIY roofers falling off their ladder while completing roof repairs.
It’s important to note that scaffolding is going to provide you with more access to different areas of the roof with greater levels of ease. You won’t need to worry about moving around your ladder to access different points. It will also crucially provide you with a flat space where you are going to be able to walk. This is always going to be necessary with a larger job that is going to require multiple hours of work. It’s true there are other options aside from the typical platform, but none will provide the same level of safety. With scaffolding, you will have a sturdy platform that you can stay up on for hours.
Furthermore, scaffolding isn’t just about protecting those who are working on the roof. It can also be used to ensure that the people below are safe as well. This can be tricky without scaffolding if an extensive job requires a vast range of different materials. Materials falling down can lead to horrific injuries. This can be avoided if you use scaffolding that has an edge.
Some roofing jobs can be completed in one day. For others, it can take significantly longer. For instance, you might be remodeling the roof for an attic conversion. If that’s the case, extensive work is often needed to raise the height of the roof. In a case like this scaffolding can be beneficial. It will once again ensure that you have a platform to complete the work on. It is also going to protect the roof and the rest of the property if it’s going to be left open to the elements. It can ensure that you won’t have to deal with issues like damp or even wind damage due to a roof that has been left exposed.
You don’t need to think about the level of foot traffic on the ground below. It’s important that you are considering the likelihood of someone walking around underneath where you are working. This could easily lead to an accident. This is why for busy or highly populated areas, scaffolding is almost always used. Again, it’s about protecting members of the public on the ground rather than just thinking about the safety of the roofers working on the project. Don’t forget, if you are completing roof repairs with DIY, you could be held liable for any injuries someone sustains on your property.
If you don’t need scaffolding, then it will usually be due to the fact that the job in question is quite simple. This means that you won’t have to worry about it stretching on for longer than a day. You probably also won’t have to access different areas of the roof and there will usually be limited levels of materials too. So, you don’t need to panic about someone getting injured who might be walking around below. There are numerous examples of jobs where scaffolding would not be required.
This includes:
You might also have a flat roof or a single story roof. If that’s the case, it’s again possible that scaffolding won’t be necessary. You will easily be able to walk around safely. However, you should make sure that you are still tying the ladder so that it isn’t going to move when you’re climbing up and down. You may also want to consider using something like a safety harness. This will ensure that if you do fall or slip, it won’t result in a serious injury in most cases. Make sure that you are wearing all the right safety gear too including a hard helmet to protect yourself from head injuries.
We hope this helps you understand the benefits of scaffolding and when it could be the right choice for roof work. If you think you do need this solution then make sure you contact WSCL for a free quote for any scaffolding work, domestic or commercial. We’ll ensure that you get the expert advice you need and that your worksite is going to be safe.
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