Roofing Safety 101 By Dan Seitz

By Author: Dan Seitz
Total Articles: 7
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Roofing is a dangerous job. If you're roofing a house or attaching gutters, you're generally high enough to break bones, cause permanent disability, and even get killed if things go wrong. So use your common sense, and the right gear, and you'll be safe during your job. Here's a handy checklist to make sure everything's done safely.

* Choose a day that's not windy or otherwise nasty to work on your roof. Even a light wind can knock you off balance at the wrong time, and hot days can make roofing materials slippery.

* Test your equipment on the ground before taking it up onto the roof.

* Rope off the area you're working on to protect people on the ground, and never drop anything off the roof.

* Have a buddy on hand to serve as a roof spotter, to shoo away anybody who might wander into the danger zone, and to hand anything you may need up to you.

* Arrange a bucket and rope system to haul up tools and supplies with your spotter. Secure both so that the bucket doesn't fall suddenly.

* Never get on a ladder ...
... without two hands to hang onto it, and your spotter at the bottom keeping his weight on the bottom rung to hold it stable.

* Always extend your ladder up a few rungs to give you something to hold onto when you climb onto the roof.

* Climb onto the roof carefully. It can be a bit disconcerting, so move slowly and make sure of your footing before putting all your weight on your feet.

* Secure any equipment on your person tightly before climbing and when not in use.

* Keep your shoes clean of debris and sweep the roof clean before doing any work.

* Get a ladder at least a few feet taller than where you're getting onto your roof. Make sure it's sturdy, and on level, firm ground. If necessary, use plywood or some other sturdy, flat surface to even out the ladder.

* Install roof brackets starting 18 inches from the eaves and every eight feet up your roof. Lift a shingle, and nail them to a rafter or a truss. Lay a 2x6 board across the brackets, and you have a safe place to put your feet. Brackets can be taken off their nails and moved up, but always leave the bottommost board in place.

* Use a fall arrest harness. After you install your brackets, nail the anchor to the peak of your roof, and connect the cord to the harness. It will give you full range on the roof and keep you safe while working.

* If the roof is at a sharp angle, heavily damaged, or the job is too big for the time you need to devote to it, cough up the extra cash and hire a professional roofing crew. Saving a few bucks isn't worth risking your neck.

Good luck with your roofing, and stay safe!