5 Tips for Fall Protection Just in Time for Fall

By Equipter. 

Focus on the “fall” in fall protection this year, with some autumnal tips that can keep your crew safe year-round. 

The stakes are high on a roof where the difference between life and death can be a small slip up, and that risk can increase as seasons change. 

It is important to make sure that your employees are safe on the job, so follow these tips to protect your roofing crews as we enter a new season. 

1 - Invest in fall protection training for your roofers 

The sooner you get the job done, the sooner you can move on to the next. But if you’re not putting the right safety precautions into practice, you risk losing crew members to what could be fatal accidents. 

In the construction and roofing industries, OSHA requires fall protection for individuals working at elevations of at least six feet. OSHA also requires employers to provide training for all employees who may be around fall hazards. Crew members must go through fall protection training, including how to use the protection system(s) chosen by your company, before they begin the job. It’s also important for them to know each person’s responsibility according to the company's emergency procedures. 

If you’re not sure where to begin, check out our list of roofing safety resources, including training assets, roofing safety equipment and other safety initiatives. 

2 - Make sure the crew is aware of all roof damage 

Soft spots on the roof where it’s been damaged by bad weather or leaking can pose a major hazard for roofers. Review the results of the initial roof inspection with your crew before the project begins. Make sure they know where all the danger zones are before they even climb the ladder. 

3 - Secure your roofing tools 

Trying to catch bumped tools as they slide down the roof also poses a huge threat to roofers’ safety. This can easily be eliminated by using rope or bungee cords to secure the tools to the roof and keep them out of the way. Familyhandyman.com even suggests making an accessible hand tool storage solution with a five-gallon bucket and roofing bracket. 

4 - Keep extension ladders and other roofing tools inside when not in use 

Even when roofers are using the most gripping and durable shoes, slippery extension ladders and scaffolding will increase the chance of losing their balance. Storing this equipment out of the elements will prevent dew or frost from forming on the rungs, better protecting your crew members when they use the equipment on the next job. 

Make sure your crew’s roofing tools are checked and cleaned regularly to keep them functioning properly. This also helps prevent delays in production. (Nobody wants to climb a ladder caked in dirt or work with a broken tear-off shovel!) 

5 - Use smarter roofing equipment 

Technology is always changing, even for the roofing industry. Provide your crew members with tools that streamline efficiency and virtually eliminate cleanup so they can complete each job sooner without sacrificing quality. 

One piece of equipment especially useful to roofers is the Equipter RB4000. This self-propelled dump trailer reduces the risk of falling off a ladder on the job by cutting the number of trips crew members make on and off the roof all day. The RB4000 easily lifts materials and tools up to 12 feet, right to the top of the roof, and after it’s unloaded, crew members can shove between 15 and 20 square of tear-off debris right into its container. 

Roofing fall protection should be stressed all year long. Any new employee should undergo fall protection training before stepping foot on a roof, regardless of his or her experience level. Share your roofing fall protection plan with all employees so they know the company's policies, including what to do if someone falls on the job. Review this plan with your employees regularly. 

Learn more about Equipter in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.Equipter.com.

Original article source: Equipter