Whether it’s level or sloped, a commercial roof is rife with dangers that can cause roofers to slip and fall and get seriously injured. Perimeter walls, skylights, decking, and even just being exposed to certain roofing elements will all pose a risk of injury.
This article will go through 3 hidden roofing hazards.
Safety First
When working on rooftops, everyone must learn to prioritize their safety. Taking the necessary precautions and measures is a critical step that also leads to saving a life. Among those steps are:
- ensuring adequate protective equipment,
- requiring qualifications for those who can climb the roof, and
- providing those who are allowed to climb with the necessary training.
Unfortunately, there is a wide range of risks that may exist on rooftops.
Since there are no roofs on the ground, the most visible dangers are height and gravity. A slight fall from a fair height may have severe repercussions. Roofing professionals have created a list of the most popular roofing dangers on hand to keep themselves safe.
Dangers of Being a Roofer
A roof’s primary function is to protect the home. Roof problems can lead to other costly damage, and as a result, homeowners call upon roofing professionals for roof replacements and inspections. During those repairs and inspections, roof professionals must be cautious.
Roofers must tread carefully and lightly on metal panels and membranes. Many slips and falls occur, resulting in numerous deaths per year, in addition to a growing number of non-lethal injuries.
Hidden Roofing Hazards
A roofing specialist must carefully prepare for their next step, from ladder positioning to roofing equipment. However, there are times these professionals can be surprised in certain situations. Among these surprises might be a few items that did not make it through a professional’s checklist. It may be that this threat is not visible. It’s something that everybody and not just professionals, should identify as a potential threat.
Roofing hazards dangers not only cost you your roof, but they can also result in someone’s death or injury. Knowing of these hidden dangers will assist you in developing a future solution to address the problems.
Mold
As one of the most common byproducts of a roof leak, mold and mildew will expand and disperse across the house if not tackled immediately. Black mold is a common culprit, and it also thrives on wood, which makes it a roofing hazard you must look out for, especially when maintaining and repairing a wooden roof.
Clean-up and maintenance charges for this may be excessive. Though rarely toxic or fatal, mold can cause health issues such as allergies, respiratory difficulty, rhinitis, and even asthma. It is because mold develops spores, which penetrate the air and induce these reactions.
Uneven Surfaces
At first glance, a professional might notice which areas of the roof are particularly slanted. But most of the time, these areas come as a surprise, especially if you don’t have a good line of sight. Perhaps an irregular roof is merely the result of subtle structural flaws.
Even if the roofline is straight, crooked gutters will make it seem crooked. Often you may adjust drains and vents for a more consistent appearance; other times, gutters need to remain in place. However, for roofing services, uneven surfaces pose a threat.
An effective way to combat rough surfaces is to make sure they are well marked, have good conditions around them, and have proper lighting. Professionals now need non-slip protective footwear, especially for those working with and on rough, uneven surfaces.
Chemical Hazards
Let’s face it: your eyes cannot immediately detect or even slightly notice signs of chemical roofing hazards unless they are THAT obvious.
Commercial roofs can emit poisonous fumes such as lead or asbestos. It is something that all staff must be mindful of, particularly when installing new materials. Acute symptoms of asphalt fume penetration include fever, skin rash, nausea, diminished appetite, throat and eye pain, and cough.
Asphalt paving employees, for example, have complained of respiratory issues, asthma, bronchitis, and skin irritation. Exposure to chemicals like asbestos and lead can hinder your performance and harm your overall health and well-being.
A commercial roof is vulnerable to a range of losses during inspections, renovations, and repairs, in addition to the dangers that endanger contractors. If the materials are fragile, merely walking over them will aggravate the problem.
Safety Above All Else
People in the roofing industry have learned to emphasize safety above all else. Putting some thought into your rooftop work will help you escape injuries and danger. A more elaborate rooftop management scheme, which includes a higher standard of safety assurance, can also be planned.
Many construction-related problems can be avoided and minimized with a diligent risk evaluation and risk control. Stopping rooftop falls is only one way to shield yourself or your team member. Another consideration is proper equipment.
You will limit the amount of damage caused by a fall by ensuring everybody has the correct rooftop protective equipment. Above all, the best way to stay safe is to use all OSHA-approved fall protection which saves lives and promotes safety. QDR&C believes in and follows all required safety measures.
