Safe roofers could be the difference between life or death. When a roofer is working on a very steep sloped roof, he has to ensure that he is safe and in order to keep safe, he has to take proper safety precautions. Roofers need to also teach their employees how to ensure the safety of not only themselves, but of the homeowner and the job site as well. Roofing companies that take their time to include safety tips to their list of priorities make sure that it is followed to the latter. For a roofer to abide by the safety tips laid down by the roofing company implies that he is conscious of the well-being of the job site and his company. Safety is something that helps a roofer get well-deserved respect and recognition from their peers. Following safety precautions will lessen the rate of accidents that occur on a job site. With a reduced rate of accidents on job sites, the reputation of that roofing company will be on the high side because it will be known as an accident free and profitable roofing company.

A roofer should always take his time when working on a project, as trying to get the job done and working faster could cause accidents. This is actually referred to as safety common sense and is a part of practicing roofer safety. When a roofer has different projects that he is handling at different sites, he can tailor safety to the different projects, which is an excellent way of avoiding accidents. Before giving other roofers the privilege to work with you on a project, you should have talked with them and create a mutual understanding with them in regards to the safety importance on the particular project they are handling. Discouraging unsafe work practices and leading by example is a way to help roofers understand and implement their job on the site as well.

 

Safety Tips for Roofers

A very good safety tip for roofers is to always keep the job site clean. Although this is supposed to be a common knowledge to all roofers, you will be surprised to find out that some roofers fail to keep their job site clean and organized. With a clean and well organized job site, there would be fewer hazards like tripping and dangerous areas will be identified so as to ensure a professional job and crew. You will find that the most productive job sites are the ones that are always clean so always make sure that your job sites are monitored and kept clean at all times. A clean job site would also ensure a better flow of jobs.

Ladders can be the best friend of a roofer if he uses them properly, but on the other hand, they could be a roofer’s worst enemy if they are improperly used. For a roofer, you should know the right ladder that will correspond to the local codes that are approved by the association of builders. Before using a ladder, a roofer should inspect the ladder rungs, its ropes, and pulleys and check if it is functioning properly. He should also check if there is dirt on the rungs and clean any tar or oil that is on the ladder. As a roofer you should not trust home-made ladders as they could be very dangerous and when you notice that a ladder is bad or damaged, you should immediately get rid of them.  After using a ladder, you should make sure that they are cross-checked and kept in a safe place. You can take down all ladders on the job site and lock them together till the next day you want to use them.

A very dangerous risk to take when working with electrical wiring is to set up a metal ladder near these electrical wires. Electricity is a very dangerous component and can travel from one wire to another in a few minutes. Always keep a non-conductive ladder on the job site just to be sure that you are out of danger. Another safety tip when engaging in electrical wiring as a roofer is to stay very far from electrical wires.

There is a professional way to use a ladder and this should be strictly adhered to when roofing. Steps to take when using a ladder include keeping your face towards the ladder, using both hands when on the ladder, stepping on one rung at a time and never sliding down on a ladder. When climbing a ladder, make sure that your shoes have no dirt, tar or oil on it so as to avoid slipping. It is very unprofessional for more than one roofer to be on a ladder at a time so ensure these safety tips are adhered to.

 

Importance of Getting Insurance as a Roofer

It is very important for a roofer to get a very good insurance policy because in the case of an accident while on the site, the insurance company will bear the responsibility of handling all expenses. This also implies to general contractors because they will definitely hire other sub-contractors which could include roofers to work with them on the project. Plumbers, general contractors and roofers are all related in the construction world that is why when one gets an insurance policy, it is advisable for the rest to get theirs.

Insurance is very important for a roofer’s career to blossom in the sense that anyone who wants to hire a roofer would want to be sure that in the case of an accident they wouldn’t have to pay for any compensation. With a very good insurance policy, a roofer can gain more ground in the field of his construction career. When someone wants to hire you for a job and finds out that you have an insurance policy, it will give him a kind of assurance that he is picking the best person for the job. That is why the roofer is a very vital part in the construction of a home. To get a same day qoute on roofers insurance click here.

Written by: John Brown
John has more than 25 years of experience in the insurance industry. He grew from a star insurance producer to owning one of the largest agencies in the country; he's a reference regarding contractor's insurance, commercial insurance, and builders' risk insurance.