cyrahaz
New Member
Roofing safety: follow the rules or pay the price
Roofing work is risky business. There’s a lot that can go wrong when roofers are working high above ground. Hazards such as poor weather and debris left lying around present serious dangers to roofers. Because roofing is so dangerous, there are rules in place to keep roofers safe. Roofers must be trained to work safely atop a roof and they must have—and know how to use—proper safety equipment in order to avoid serious injury and even death. Unfortunately, roofers are not always in compliance with these rules.
What’s the worst that can happen?
Roofers, especially those that have been in the business for many years, might feel their experience makes up for the absence of proper safety equipment and training. They might feel that this equipment will slow them down. For one reason or another, roofers might justify going without the proper equipment. This can ultimately result in serious consequences.
If they’re lucky, the worst that happens to roofers who violate safety regulations is that they get hit with a hefty fine or have their license pulled. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is tasked with enforcing these safety regulations. An OSHA inspection could occur at any time. If they uncover unsafe practices, the roofing company can be fined or temporarily lose their license to do roofing work.
Of course the worst case scenario is even more severe. Failure to use proper safety equipment can, and often does, result in the serious injury or death of a roofer. After an investigation into the accident, the consequences mentioned above are often added to the natural consequences. A recent roofing accident in New Zealand not only led to a serious injury for one of the roofers, but a 45,000 dollar fine as well. In this case, the safety equipment that would have prevented the injury sat unused at the work site.
Message to roofers
Because the risks associated with roofing are severe, roofers should never, for any reason, ignore safety regulations. Roofing contractors should be responsible for making sure every roofer is properly trained to use safety equipment prior to getting up on a roof. Roofing companies must also be responsible for obtaining insurance that covers any incidents that do occur.
Message to homeowners
When a roofer falls and is hurt or killed, many do not consider the plight of the homeowner. Because it occurred on the homeowner’s property, they necessarily become a part of the tragedy. Someone will have to pay for the medical costs. This should be the roofing company’s insurance but often it is the homeowners’ insurance. Homeowners can protect themselves by making sure the roofing company they hire has the necessary insurance.
Home improvement news brought to you by bartonroof.com
Source: 3news.co.nz/nznews/roofing-company-fined-after-worker-fell-2014093005
Roofing work is risky business. There’s a lot that can go wrong when roofers are working high above ground. Hazards such as poor weather and debris left lying around present serious dangers to roofers. Because roofing is so dangerous, there are rules in place to keep roofers safe. Roofers must be trained to work safely atop a roof and they must have—and know how to use—proper safety equipment in order to avoid serious injury and even death. Unfortunately, roofers are not always in compliance with these rules.
What’s the worst that can happen?
Roofers, especially those that have been in the business for many years, might feel their experience makes up for the absence of proper safety equipment and training. They might feel that this equipment will slow them down. For one reason or another, roofers might justify going without the proper equipment. This can ultimately result in serious consequences.
If they’re lucky, the worst that happens to roofers who violate safety regulations is that they get hit with a hefty fine or have their license pulled. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is tasked with enforcing these safety regulations. An OSHA inspection could occur at any time. If they uncover unsafe practices, the roofing company can be fined or temporarily lose their license to do roofing work.
Of course the worst case scenario is even more severe. Failure to use proper safety equipment can, and often does, result in the serious injury or death of a roofer. After an investigation into the accident, the consequences mentioned above are often added to the natural consequences. A recent roofing accident in New Zealand not only led to a serious injury for one of the roofers, but a 45,000 dollar fine as well. In this case, the safety equipment that would have prevented the injury sat unused at the work site.
Message to roofers
Because the risks associated with roofing are severe, roofers should never, for any reason, ignore safety regulations. Roofing contractors should be responsible for making sure every roofer is properly trained to use safety equipment prior to getting up on a roof. Roofing companies must also be responsible for obtaining insurance that covers any incidents that do occur.
Message to homeowners
When a roofer falls and is hurt or killed, many do not consider the plight of the homeowner. Because it occurred on the homeowner’s property, they necessarily become a part of the tragedy. Someone will have to pay for the medical costs. This should be the roofing company’s insurance but often it is the homeowners’ insurance. Homeowners can protect themselves by making sure the roofing company they hire has the necessary insurance.
Home improvement news brought to you by bartonroof.com
Source: 3news.co.nz/nznews/roofing-company-fined-after-worker-fell-2014093005
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