6 Safety Tips to Follow When Working on a Roof

It's no secret that working on a roof is inherently more dangerous than working on the ground. If you fall while working on the ground, you'll probably sustain nothing more than some cuts and bruises. If you fall while working on a roof, however, you could sustain broken bones or other serious injuries. To lower your risk of injury, follow these six safety tips when working on a roof.

#1) Access Using a Ladder

Always use a ladder to access a roof. Attempting to free-climb up the side of a home or building a is a surefire recipe for injury. You may lose your grip, at which point you'll fall to the ground below. A high-quality ladder, on the other hand, allows you to safely access roofs without exposing yourself to physical injury.

#2) Climb Ladder With 3 Points of Contact

When using a ladder to access a roof, keep three points of contact with the ladder at all times. In other words, you should have either two feet and one hand on the ladder or two hands and one foot on the ladder. If you only use two points of contact, you could slip and fall.

#3) Wear a Safety Harness

A safety harness is an essential form of personal protective equipment (PPE) for roof workers. Hopefully, you won't lose your footing while on the roof. If for any reason you happen to slip, though, a safety harness will prevent you from falling to the ground below.

#4) Wear the Right Shoes or Boots

In addition to a safety harness, you also need to wear the right shoes or boots when working on a roof. If your shoes have little or no traction, you may slip and fall. Therefore, you should wear shoes or boots with a nonslip sole when working on a roof.

#5) Only Work in Dry Conditions

If it's raining -- or if it recently rained -- you should postpone your roofing project until another day. Shingles become slippery when exposed to water. As a result, working on a wet roof is a major safety hazard -- but it's also something that can be avoided by planning your roofing project for a sunny day.

#6) Beware of Power Lines

Finally, be conscious of the location of any power lines near your working area. It's not uncommon for power lines to hang over roofs. If you accidentally walk into a power line while working a roof, it could deliver a potentially fatal amount of electricity.