Question about working on a roof

Cyanide

Cyanide

Cyanide

Soldato
Joined
5 Mar 2006
Posts
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Location
Nottingham
I've just looked over the paperwork for my jobs next week and it would appear that I've been planned to work on the roof of a 2 storey house. I was under the impression that H&S wouldn't allow this? I've got all the right kit so it should be fairly safe but I'm still not all that comfortable going it alone.

Anyone know anything about the rules an regs on this?
 
Em would help if we knew what your job is.

If your a roof tiler, then I think you might have to do it.

Edit: just noticed your an Electrical Engineer.

Doubt it will be that unsafe, depends on weather etc too though I would have thought.
 
Begbie said:
Edit: just noticed your an Electrical Engineer.
Click to expand...

Show's how long it's been since I updated things, haven't done that for 18 months :D

I'm a heating engineer, gotta go up on the roof to whip out some tiles, cut them to shape and install a vertical flue for the new boiler. It's a real pain in the **** to do on your own.
 
Begbie said:
Sounds like its part of your everyday job.

Are you covered by your company for working at heights?
Click to expand...

Well I've never been properly trained for it if thats what you mean. They supplied all the gear and that's it. We've always been told that roof work should be planned for 2 man teams.
 
Well at a guess I'd expect you'd have to be 'properly trained' before doing anything like this? If you think it's wrong then put your foot down.
 
Lots of people claim they're OK on roofs but when you need to actually 'work' up there you need to use both hands so holding on for dear life onto the ladder/chimney with one hand does not count as working on roofs.

If you're scared of heights don't even bother trying to go up as there's a good chance you'll freeze and be stuck up there until the fire brigade turn up

I've been up hundreds (Ex-Aerial and Satellite Dish installer) and the worst part is coming down off the roof every single time, that step off the actual roof onto the ladder is the most likely time you'll come off :)
 
I'm not afraid of heights and I'm ok working off ladders (drill in one hand, bucket full of tools and fittings in the other) I just don't like being on roofs for some reason. I thought it would be best to check if anyone knew what the HSWA had to say in regards to this before I ring the boss and tell him I'm not doing it :p
 
Ok so I know its not exactly the same thing, but when Sky came to do the installation for the flat i live in, because its on the top floor, they had to have the "special heights" crew come and do it, because the ordinary engineers are not qualified to climb about on roofs.
 
Well, you need to sum up the roof when you get there, some are nasty and some are easy, all depends on the roof.

If you get there and it's a steep slate roof covered in moss/lichen and it's raining/damp then common sense says don't bother and try when it's dry. Same if it's icy. It could be a dormer type where you get a lovely flat-roof to work from, you won't know until you see the roof. Ultimately it's up to you whether you go up or not, if you're not happy then don't go up, but you won't know how easy/hard it's going to be until you see the roof.
 
I would recommend that you should:

1. Have a means of permanent attachment
2. Have a means of rescue if you get into trouble. This probably means having another person there who is trained in rescue at height techniques.
 
Perhaps check if you're insured for any nasty instances of falling through or something equally painful/damaging (that is if you work for yourself).
 
I say be a man and suck it up. Take the precautions you need to take, ie make sure your secured to something up there.

Unless you dont know how to do the job than just do it.
 
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