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Roof Work

HSE webpage minor roof work

INTRODUCTION

On average 28 workers are killed each year and several hundred are seriously injured as a result of working on roofs. Members of the public are also killed and injured when hit by materials falling or thrown carelessly from roofs. Nearly all roof work fatalities could have been prevented by the provision and proper use of readily available equipment and by following recognized safety procedures.

Booklet HS (G) 33 "Health and Safety in Roof Work" gives extensive guidance on how to work safely on roofs. It covers new buildings, repair, maintenance, cleaning work and demolition. The principal problems are falls through fragile roofing materials and falls from unprotected roof edges. Maintenance work may be undertaken by people, with little or no experience, of roof work or of working at height. It is important therefore to ensure adequate:-

- planning
- instruction
- training and
- supervision (to an enhanced standard).

The following advice is summarised from HSG33.

WORKING SAFELY - GENERAL ISSUES

1. Safe place of work - safety method statements should be prepared covering all safety aspects.
2. Use of suitable safeguards (in a hierarchy):-

(i) avoid work at height if possible. If unavoidable,
(ii) use safe working platform,
(iii) use fall arrest systems (safety net or harnesses).

3. Safe access to the roof (via independent scaffolds, fixed or mobile scaffold towers, mobile access equipment or ladders).
4. Escape in case of fire.
5. Materials handling.
6. Mechanical handling (e.g., cranes, lifting appliances).
7. Falling materials (eliminate or reduce risk by appropriate programming of work, "birdcage" scaffold or debris netting).
8. Weather conditions.
9. Electricity - power lines/portable tools.

HSE webpage risks from working at hiehgt

TYPES OF WORK

1. Inspection - from (remote) safe place or in safe manner.
2. Refurbishment - needs careful planning as is always high risk i.e.,

· identify fragile elements
· identify precautions
· establish close liaison with client
· may need structural survey
· carry out risk assessment

3. Maintenance and Cleaning - often by people with no experience on, or aptitude for, work at height. Need a suitable risk assessment, proper planning and supervision.
4. Short duration work - precaution will depend on an overall assessment of the risks involved which considers: duration/complexity/pitch of roof/condition of the roof/weather conditions/risk to those putting up edge protection/risk to other workers and the public. Where mobile access equipment is not practicable, travel restraint or fall arrest systems should be considered.

TYPES OF ROOF

1. Flat roofs

· where the roof design does not provide permanent edge protection, then temporary edge protection will normally
be required, as follows:-asbestos/fibre cement sheeting, wired glass and rusted corrugated steel sheeting.
· where limited work is being carried out on sections of a large roof a simple form of distance barrier could be used (usually at least 2m from the edge) supported by a high level of supervision and discipline.

2. Sloping roofs

· On most sloping roofs, suitable roof ladders or crawling boards will be essential, in addition to edge protection. The anchorage at the top of the roof ladder should be by some method that does not depend on the ridge capping. The anchorage should bear on the opposite slope by a ridge iron or be secured by some other effective means.
· As an alternative to roof ladders, timber battens used for slated/tiled roof can provide a reasonably secure foothold provided they meet certain safety criteria.

3. Fragile roofs

· Falls through fragile materials are a particular problem in building maintenance. Work should, if possible, be arranged so as to avoid working on or passing near fragile material. If this is unavoidable, it is essential to identify all fragile materials and implement necessary stringent precautions.
· Preventing falls may involve
- safe working platform or covering on the roof ( and safe access to the working position); use of stagings (of a min. 600mm width) fitted with guard rails.
- where it is not practicable to maintain guard rails on both sides of the staging, other precautions will be required (e.g., safety nets and birdcage scaffolding).
- harness and line systems.
- permanent protection along sides of valley gutters (up to 2m depending on roof pitch).
- not locating roof lights within 2m of valley gutters.
- prevent unauthorised access.
- display warning signs (black on yellow background).
- guarding or covering and marking roof lights where people need to approach within 2 metres.

HSE falls from height homepage

4. Industrial roofs - covered also in HSG33.

PROTECTING THE PUBLIC

Firstly, need to prevent materials falling.
Secondly, need to prevent people from being struck by any materials or tools which do fall. Use of birdcage scaffolds, debris netting or sheeting of scaffold boards should be evaluated and used where necessary. Skips, baskets or enclosed debris chutes should be used to remove waste materials. Warning signs should be displayed.

CONTROLLING HEALTH RISKS

Relevant health risks may involve any of the following:-

· manual handling
· hazardous substances
· asbestos
· lead
· bitumen and asphalt
· glues and solvents
· ultraviolet radiation

Advice on these issues can be found within other elements of this manual or in HSG33.

TRAINING AND SUPERVISION

· All workers should be trained in safe working practices; to include risks encountered and systems of work to control them.
· Managers and supervisors will need competence to deliver safety standards on site. Health and safety training should help secure this.
· Relevant courses are organised by national federations, industry training boards etc.

CHECKLIST - ROOFWORK

1.	Do you know the construction details of your roofs?	YES /NO
2.	Have you identified hazards associated with roofwork at your premises and taken appropriate measures to minimise any risks?	YES /NO
3.	Have you erected warning notices regarding any fragile materials within your roofs?	YES /NO
4.	Do you liaise closely with building contractors regarding roofwork at your premises?	YES /NO
5.	Do you train and supervise any employees who may need to gain access to roofs at your premises?	YES /NO

REFERENCE/FURTHER DETAILS

1. Booklet HS (G) 33 - Safety in roof work (HSE)

2. HSE falls from height publications
3. HSE Books:
4. HSE homepage:

For further information please call (023) 9254 5505, 5506 or 5507 during office hours or call at the Town Hall, High Street, Gosport, Hampshire PO12 1EB.

Alternatively e-mail ehs@gosport.gov.uk any time