Roofing may not immediately spring to mind as an especially dangerous job, compared to bomb disposal, logging, ice road trucking, firefighting, mining, working with hot metal, and the like.
We see shingle roofs everywhere we look, which makes it easy to overlook the very real risks roofing contractors take every day.
One of the reasons roofing is so dangerous is the number of things that can go wrong, and how commonly they occur.
Roofers don’t generally work on roofs that are in good condition. Whether they are carrying out roofing inspections or repairs, missing or damaged shingles create the possibility of stumbling or even falling through the roof.
Shingles are slick when wet or coated with algae, both of which are common occurrences. Even roofers experienced in handling such conditions can slip and fall from the roof to the ground. But it’s also possible to trip over piles of shingles or experience sudden vertigo.
For these reasons, all good roofers use safety harnesses on the job.
Roofing is hard physical labor, including bending down, picking up weight, and walking on a slope. The resultant fatigue makes slipping or tripping more likely and impairs judgment.
Roofing contractors cannot work when it is raining or the roof is covered in snow, which means most roofing jobs take place during warm, dry weather. Being up on the roof, coupled with physical exertion, translates to a high risk of heat stroke and exhaustion, which easily leads to falls.
Whether carrying out roofing inspections or maintaining shingle roofing, workers are often in proximity to power lines. Metal ladders make it even easier to make accidental contact with a line, resulting in a fatal shock.
Apart from the tripping hazard piles of shingles pose, the tools and materials of the trade are dangerous.
Roofers often work with hot tar, which is all too easy to splash or spill on oneself or a teammate. Even with personal protective equipment (PPE), hot tar causes severe, painful burns leading to disfiguring and disabling scarring.
Shingle roofing is secured with nails. Accidentally standing on nails causes puncture wounds; nail gun accidents skewer worker’s hands. Not only are such injuries painful, but because they are deep, they easily lead to infection.
In 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded 59 fatalities per 100,000 roofers; non-fatal injuries were 3.6 per 100,000, which is lower than many other industries. In other words, if something goes wrong when you’re up a roof, you’re not likely to survive.
The biggest reason for this is that most roofing accidents result in falls from at least 18 feet up, leading to internal injuries and traumatic brain injury.
This guide should give any homeowner thinking of doing DIY roofing second thoughts.
Roofers face hazards every day, which is why it’s so important to hire a licensed, insured roofing professional next time you need work done on your home.
