SAFETY & TOOLS
Safety first
Falls from height remain the single biggest cause of workplace fatalities, with roofers making up almost a
quarter of this figure. Richard Kendrick, marketing manager at SIG Roofing, stresses the importance of
following best practice to ensure safety is never compromised
Safety on-site is a huge concern
for the construction industry as a
whole, but the issue is particularly
pressing for those working at
height. Whether it is a trained roofer or
an untrained maintenance worker, it
is essential that the correct precautions
be put in place to lessen the risk of an
accident whilst at work.
There are steps you can take to
ensure you are putting your best foot
forward when it comes to safety, which
will both protect yourself and your
colleagues, and also gives your client
peace of mind.
Put it in writing
The Health and Safety in Roof
Work report by the Health and
Safety Executive (HSE) states that ‘a
competent person should prepare a
safety method statement before work
starts on a roof.’ A method statement
will outline how falls will be prevented
or minimised; how other risks
identified at planning survey stages are
to be controlled; what equipment will
be needed; what competence and/or
training is needed; who will supervise
the job on-site; and who will check that
the system is effectively managing risk.
Following on from this, having the
correct policies and procedures in place
before work commences is essential
for demonstrating your ability to
effectively manage risk. For example,
it must be clear in writing as to who is
allowed on the roof, and under what
circumstances. Minimising the number
of people allowed to access the roof
can minimise the risk of accident, so
you should consider carefully who has
access and make sure this is made clear
to everyone involved. Deploy a ‘check
in, check out’ system so there’s a record
of roof traffic, and make someone
responsible for overseeing this system
and granting or denying access to other
personnel.
All trained up
Once you have your mission statement,
you should have a clear idea of the
training and qualifications necessary
for taking out the work. Ensuring all
members of staff undergo thorough
and frequent training so that they are
up to speed on the current guidelines is
essential.
The HSE describes a competent
person as someone who is ‘capable of
“Make sure you are purchasing your equipment from a well-trusted
supplier who will be able to advise you on exactly what you need to
ensure you are working safely at all times”
identifying existing and predictable
hazards, and who has the authorisation
to take prompt corrective measures
to eliminate them.’ Make sure this is
always true of yourself and any other
staff members by investing in routine
HSE-approved training programmes
on health and safety on-site.
Whilst experience is very valuable,
that alone is not enough to guarantee
your expertise when it comes to
health and safety. A training course is
highly recommended and should be
taken every time new guidelines are
published.
Well equipped
Last but by no means least, once you
have the correct safety procedures
and training in place, you need to
make sure you are employing proper
protection devices. There are lots
of retrofit options available that are
inexpensive to install and will last for a
long time.
It is also strongly advised to
supply your staff with ‘active’ safety
equipment, such as a harness, which
they are required to clip on themselves.
The use of harnesses, roof anchors and
safety lines can hugely diminish the
risk of a serious fall from height.
Other advisable equipment is
safety tape, which can be used to mark
out walkways and draw attention to
hazards; grab bars; and railings with
self-closing hatches.
You should also ensure that any
fixed ladders are reinforced with safety
cages and, where this isn’t possible, any
mobile access equipment is compliant
with current legislation and checked
regularly for faults.
Minimising risk requires a multifaceted
approach. Doing the legwork in
the early stages in order to put together
a comprehensive method statement
allows you to determine exactly how
you need to proceed and take the
necessary measures in training and
providing equipment.
Make sure you are purchasing your
equipment from a well-trusted supplier
who will be able to advise you on
exactly what you need to ensure you
are working safely at all times.
w www.sigroofing.co.uk
100 www.rcimag.co.uk November 2018
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