SAFETY & TOOLS
Reaching new heights of
safety for roofers
Despite the obvious dangers that arise when working on roofs, for many years there has not been a standard
for roof ladders. As falls from height remain the highest cause of workplace accidents, Jamie Brassington,
product manager at WernerCo, discusses the impact that new roof ladder standards will have for the industry
According to the Health and
Safety Executive (HSE), in
the UK 40% of working at
height accidents occur when
using ladders. As roofers account for
nearly 24% of all work at height fatalities
within the construction industry, the
introduction of a specific standard for
roof ladders is long overdue.
The use of ladders is covered within the
scope of The Work at Height Regulations
(2005), and this applies equally to roof
ladders. However, the new BS 8634 (2017)
standard specifies that portable roof
ladders can be used on a pitch of 25° to
65°, which covers the majority of roofs
in the UK – but for roofs outside of this
range, other types of access equipment
should be considered.
Accessing a roof can be a major risk if
approached in the wrong way, therefore,
a secure means of entry and exit is
essential. The minimum requirement is
a properly secured ladder, however, a
general access scaffold or tower scaffold
could provide the most suitable access.
Whether you’re working on a flat or
sloping roof, it’s essential to understand
the different precautions that need to be
taken to ensure workers minimise the
risk of injury, and Personal Protective
Equipment should also be considered as
well as the equipment being used.
A resource of information
Currently, there are two sources of
information that professionals can
turn to when looking for details of best
practice when working at height – the
HSE Guidelines and Work at Height
Regulations.
The existing HSE Guidelines on roof
ladders state that they must be designed
for the purpose, of good construction,
properly supported, and, if used on a
sloping roof, they must be securely fixed
by means of a ridge hook placed over
the ridge bearing on the opposite roof. It
also states that ladders should be used in
addition to eaves-level edge protection
and gutters should not be used to support
any ladder.
Meanwhile, the Work at Height
Regulations state that special measures
must be taken, such as the use of an access
platform or scaffolding, where it is not
possible to maintain a constant handhold
on a ladder; a stipulation that led to
an increase in the use of personal fall
protection equipment when using
roof ladders.
While both the regulations and
guidelines stipulate that the correct
equipment must be used when working
at height, there has previously been little
information for manufacturers and endusers
on what specifications a product
must meet in order to be deemed as
suitable, or what is classified as a good
construction.
In the absence of such a standard,
designers and manufacturers have been
left without guidance on critical issues
such as; the strength requirements for
the hook arrangement at the top of the
ladder, the maximum deflection allowed
in the ladder under load and the clear
distance below the ladder to provide
a safe foothold when climbing. All of
these critical factors, together with
specific markings and user information
were addressed in the recently
published BS8634 (2017) Portable Roof
Ladders, however, it’s important to
remember that portable roof ladders
are only intended tasks that are of short
duration and low risk.
A new standard for roofers
In 2016 – following an agreement from the
British Standards Institute to a business
case supported by the Ladder Association
– work was started to set out the imperative
introduction of a standard, which has
been supported by various user groups
together with the HSE.
The introduction of a new standard for
roofers can only be seen as a positive step
in the right direction.
The ladder industry in general has
seen a huge shakeup over recent months
with the introduction of the latest EN131
standards. The revised EN131 becomes
effective in the UK in January 2019, with
the new measures forming part of an
update to the European Standard for all
non-specialised ladder products.
Because of the huge amount of work
that the industry is undertaking to
modify general use products – such as
extension, step and combination ladders
– to meet the new EN131 standard, it is
likely that the new design of roof ladders
will not be extensively available until 2019.
Ladders that are certified to an earlier
standard can still be used beyond this
point, but the update – which is supported
by both Trading Standards and the HSE
– means any ladder manufactured for
professional use after January 2019 should
comply with the new requirements.
A professionally rated ladder is
manufactured and tested to more
rigorous standards than those intended
for occasional domestic use, maximising
safety and standing the test of time.
As the new roof ladder standard is the
first of its kind in Europe, its requirements
will undoubtedly evolve following
feedback from roofing specialists that
frequently use the equipment, ultimately
helping ensure the standard meets the
industry’s needs.
WernerCo already manufactures a
wide range of Class 1 ladders suitable
for industrial jobs, with a maximum
static vertical load of 175kg, making
them the most heavy-duty products
under the BS2037 standard.
w www.wernerco.com/eu
In the UK 40%
of working
at height
accidents
occur when
using ladders
104 www.rcimag.co.uk July 2018
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/www.rcimag.co.uk
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