By Will Goodenough
As public conscience focuses more and more on health and safety, there is an increased emphasis on keeping people safe at work. Construction is considered one of the most dangerous industries to work in, with significant and consistent injury and death rates year on year. This has led to regular reformation of health and safety regulations, and a specific combination of different legislations applicable to construction work.
Falls make up more half of all construction-related injuries and deaths, and continue to present one of the biggest risks to employees in construction roles. The period between 1999 and 2007 recorded 580 construction-related fatalities in the UK. This averages at 73 fatal accidents a year, with 41 of these being falls. Several recent high-profile incidents of skylight accidents have brought increased attention to the danger, as have the significant fines and penalties construction managers have been facing. Risk of fall is one of the biggest safety concerns of roofing work, so consider what added measures can be put in place to make a roof a safe place to work.
As of 2016, the law applies a combination of several legislations to safe roofing work:
These publications should be sought out and shared with all employees as a regular part of roof safety training.
It is recommended that construction work at height should follow a hierarchy to minimise the risk of injury. Primarily, measures should be taken to prevent the need to work at height, such as a telescopic camera pole for carrying out roof inspections. In cases where roofs must be accessed, falls should be prevented with the addition of such safety features as metre-high parapets, mobile elevating work platforms (MEWP) and work restraint systems such as harnesses. Where these solutions are impractical and risk of fall is likely, extra precautions should be taken, such as safety nets, beanbags and airbags.
Maintaining confidence in the effectiveness of such safety precautions makes regular training and refreshment courses for staff working on roofs essential. All employers working at height or in construction environments must ensure that roof safety training is given to all new employees, and refreshed frequently with long-term staff. It is essential that all staff feel confident in their abilities and safety, and if they do not, you are failing them as a manager.
Safety checks of staff equipment and working environment should be carried out with regularity, every day preferably, and any potential health and safety risks addressed immediately. Similarly, possession and condition of staff safety equipment should also be checked with stringency, and ill-equipped staff should not be permitted to work. Suitability and condition of hard hats, boots, gloves and other protective equipment should be checked regularly.
Ensuring safe working conditions for staff should be every manager’s priority, and this means good all-around oversight of the work environment and its contents. Introducing a quality control routine helps staff to look out for and spot potential safety hazards, and shares the responsibility of health and safety among the team. Establishing a company culture of top-notch health and safety should be the main objective when looking to improve roof safety.
https://www.radlawfirm.com/roofing-accidents-are-some-of-the-most-dangerous-and-heres-why/
http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/top-5-most-dangerous-jobs-5014470
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg33.pdf
http://www.familyhandyman.com/tools/how-to-properly-use-a-roof-safety-harness/view-all
Will Goodenough is the Marketing Manager at Whitesales.
Whitesales provide roof glazing solutions to enhance internal environments through the use of natural light. This involves working with specifiers, contractors and merchants providing condition reports, site surveys, detailed design solutions, budget costs and ultimately delivery to site, including installation where necessary. Whitesales team are committed to working closely with their clients to understand their needs in order to deliver tailored design and cost solutions. You can find Whitesales website here: www.whitesales.co.uk
CDM 2007??? Weakened the whole piece. Not good enough Will!
Comforting to know that SHP make mistakes too. I wasn’t aware that in 2016, we’re all still working under CDM 2007 !
Thanks for sharing this article, It helpful to all those contractor who are working on roof. I am looking to read more post from you.
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