How To Work On A Fragile Roof

Falling from a roof is an occupational health and safety ohs risk for workers who remove fragile roofing.

How to work on a fragile roof.

Roof slates and tiles glass such as wired glass. How to develop safe systems of work. The principles of working on fragile surfaces are exactly the same as any other form of work at height so if you apply the hierarchy of control you should be able to ensure that the work can be carried out safely. The magistrates court heard how the roofing contractor had been contracted to replace the roofs of light industrial units.

Non reinforced fibre cement sheets. Work on or near fragile surfaces requires a combination of stagings guard rails fall restraint fall arrest and safety nets slung beneath and close to the roof. How to tread carefully on fragile surfaces. Working on fragile roofs.

Warning notices must be fixed on the approach to any fragile surface. Use a mobile elevating work platform mewp that allows people to work from within the basket without standing on the roof itself. Glass such as wired glass. The work involved replacing fragile asbestos cement roof sheets with metal roof cladding.

Roof slates and tiles. If access onto the fragile roof cannot be avoided mitigate fall distance and consequences. Roof lights and skylights. If the work cannot be done from underneath and workers need access to the topside of the roof.

The ohs duties of employers to prevent workers from being injured. This document advises employers of their duties to reduce these risks. While simply climbing onto a roof may seem like a quick and easy way to do a minor repair job or clean a roof light it s fraught with danger particularly on a fragile roof and should be avoided at all costs.