A commercial roof is a likely place for pitfalls. It poses a huge risk to workers, from heights to unprotected edges, trapped heat and other tripping hazards. The general duty of a building owner is to prioritize adequate precautions to avoid accidents and ensure that employees can confidently perform their tasks in a safe environment. In this blog, a trusted residential roofing contractor discusses the best practices for commercial roof safety.
Ladders: If your building does not possess indoor stairs and doorway access to the roof, your workers will inevitably resort to the use of ladders. They must exercise precaution when using ladders since makeshift tools can become unstable if not properly secured or tied off to a building wall.
Exterior Egress: In a commercial building, ladders are not the only instrument for accessing floor levels and the roof. Your staff should also exercise situational awareness when utilizing hatches, elevators, penthouse doors, scaffolding, or power equipment like scissor lifts and aerial work platforms. Some ways to improve situational awareness are to identify entry and exit points, notice other people and identify objects around you.
Parapet Walls: According to a commercial roofing expert, buildings that have no barrier on the roof ledge presents an immediate threat as much as having walls that are too short to hinder someone from toppling over.
Loose Debris: Debris scattered on the roof surface can pose a tripping hazard to workers. Some examples are fallen tree branches, unkempt construction materials and tools.
Extreme Heat: Even a cool roof can be a boiling hot area for workers surrounded by reflected heat. Technicians may be susceptible to dehydration when performing activities, such as roof inspections and repairs, for an extended period of time.
