Ask anyone who has ever worked in the roofing industry, and they’ll tell you it’s true: safety is the absolute, #1 priority for every job.
The reason is simple. Roofing work is inherently dangerous, and the numbers prove it. Compared with workers in other industries, roofing industry workers are three times more likely to die from a work-related injury.
Because of the necessary risks that roofers take in doing their jobs, roofing companies know that the best way to reduce injuries and on-the-job mishaps is to use state-of-the-art safety equipment specifically designed for this application.
Thankfully, there is no shortage of highly effective fall protection and general safety equipment available to roofers, and at A-to-Z Roofing & Exteriors, we take the use of this equipment very seriously, requiring it for all of our employees on every job we do.
Let’s explore the numerous tools and techniques roofers use to keep themselves safe during residential or commercial roof repair and replacement.
From Toe Boards to Training
Most single-family homes and similarly designed residential buildings have sloped, “Gable” roofs that are engineered to allow water to effectively drain from the rooftop surface.
While sloped roofs do a good job of shedding water and debris, they’re not easy to stand on. For this reason, toe boards are often installed as a safety measure.
Toe boards are long planks of wood that are temporarily nailed to roof trusses, and they’re used to provide enough support for roofing workers to stand on as they remove, repair, or replace roofing material.
As the roofing work is completed, the toe boards are removed and repositioned until the job is complete. Occasionally, roof brackets or ‘roof jacks’ are also used in conjunction with toe boards to add enhanced stability for complex jobs.
Worn Safety Equipment
On roofs that are especially steep or high off the ground, safety harnesses are often used. These harnesses are worn by roofers over their clothing, and they include a locked tether that is secured to a firm anchor point somewhere on the roof.
Safety harnesses for roofers are required by law in many states whenever roofing work is being performed on surfaces more than 10 feet above the ground.
In addition to harnesses, roofers use heavy-duty gloves, knee shields, and thick, long-sleeved outerwear to prevent abrasions and other injuries. When applying hot asphalt or thermally sealed commercial roofing systems, it’s often necessary for roofers to wear special respirators or face masks to prevent toxic fumes from being inhaled.
Specialized Training
Did you know that heat exhaustion and dehydration are two of the most common threats to roofing workers in Colorado? It’s true…even though you might think falls or cuts and scrapes pose the most danger, it’s overheating and running out of fluids that can potentially cause a roofer to lose consciousness and experience a fall.
For this reason, roofers are given specialized training to make sure they are properly prepared for whatever environmental stressors they might encounter on the job site.
Safer Roofing is Better Roofing
A-to-Z Roofing & Exteriors is committed to equipping our employees with the equipment and knowledge they need to perform outstanding roofing work with minimal risk to their personal safety.
While it’s true that accidents do happen, we take every possible measure to protect our workers so that your roofing project is completed effectively, on-time, and without incident.
Since we started performing professional roofing services in 1993, we’ve worked on literally thousands of different roof types. From small, 1,000 square-foot homes to massive, multi-surfaced commercial roofs, there’s not a roof type we haven’t encountered here in Colorado.
Before any of our workers steps foot onto a roof to repair or replace it, we send them through extensive training that covers basic and advanced safety topics. Then, we walk them through exercises like proper ladder use, fall protection equipment maintenance, and more.
As dangerous as roofing can be, we believe that by adhering to industry-recognized safety protocols and reinforcing to our employees just how important it is to stay safe, we can continue to be Colorado’s #1 choice for professional roofing services well into the future.
We’re proud of our safety track record, and we want our customers to have as much faith in our roofing services as we have in our employees themselves.
When you’re ready to work with the best roofers in Colorado, we’ll be ready to meet the need. Contact us today to learn more. We look forward to hearing from you!