Safety

Safety when Working at Heights

Working on a roof or ladder can be very dangerous if not given enough respect. Safety at heights should always be your first priority before any work begins. In New Zealand over 50% of falls are from less than 3 meters, and the majority of these are from ladders and roofs.

Hazards Include:

• Wet surface or icy surfaces.
• Uneven ladder grounding.
• Unsecured ladders.
• Leaning out from the ladder or roof.
• Brittle, rusted, and rotting roofs.
• Sharp edges.
• Electrical Hazards.
• Falling Materials.
• Asbestos.

Good Practice:

• Secure your ladders.
• Use scaffolding around the work site.
• Ensure work space is dry.
• Secure yourself to the roof as appropriate.
• Appropriate brittle roof cladding.
• Make safe any sharp edges.
• Fence off the area below where you are working, and secure equipment being used on the roof.

For a thorougher report on all roof safety in New Zealand, please click here.