Safety 101: Roofing in Winter
Our Safety 101 blog series continues with an edition on cold weather roofing safety. TeamCraft understands that your commercial roofing needs do not stop when the winter months roll around. Safety is paramount to all roofing operations, but especially so when dealing with cold weather. The first and most obvious step to being safe on a roof in the winter is to be aware of your weather. A few questions to consider are listed below:
Is it below 32 degrees now?
Was there snow recently that might still be sitting on the roof?
Did it rain over the past day or two? This may have left water on the roof that could freeze if temperatures drop fast enough.
Is snow in the future forecast?
If you identify any of the cold weather events above, it is imperative to take additional fall protection measures when scaling the roof in consideration. Every roofing job must have a site-specific safety plan, and a roof in the winter is going to need additional safety detail on how to address the many potential weather complications that cold weather presents to contractors.
1) What type of fall hazards should a roofing contractor consider for snow and ice?
Steep slope roofs are as treacherous as a low slop roofs when snow or ice is involved. The obvious fall risk is slipping on ice or snow, leading to a greater fall from heights. However, that is not the only hazard. It is important that anybody working on a roof in the winter know the ins and outs of the entire roof system before starting work since many of the hazards could be covered by snow. A roofer should always ask themselves if they know exactly where each sky light on a roof is. If it is covered with snow, you could step through and fall within the building. It is also important to know where the conduits and other features of the roof exist. Tripping over a small parapet could lead to significantly greater injury or death if the fall results in sliding. In all seasons the safest way to work on a roof is completely tied off.
2) Should I have snow removed from my roof?
Snow is heavy. One cubic pound of snow weighs approximately 20 pounds. A relatively small commercial roof of 10,000 square feet would be supporting 200,000 pounds of snow if a foot of snow fell. Building and facilities managers should be concerned when there is significant snow build up on their low slope roof given the weight of the element. Ever year there are stories about roof cave-ins throughout the Northeast. The easiest way to prevent a structural safety problem is to make sure that large quantities of snow are not allowed to build up on your roof. Low slope roofs seem like an easy place to shovel given their flat nature, but facility managers should be wary of trying to self perform the task given the fall hazards outlined above. Shoveling is hard work, as the laborer gets fatigued it is ever important that they pay attention to their surroundings and not make a careless error that could lead to injury or death.
3) What are the health implications of working in cold weather?
Beyond the traditional fall from heights and snow hazard, it is critical to be aware of the variety of health conditions that can potentially afflict labor in the cold. A few conditions to be aware of are outlined:
Hypothermia: According to the CDC, hypothermia is caused by prolonged exposures to very cold temperatures. When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it’s produced. Lengthy exposures will eventually use up your body’s stored energy, which leads to lower body temperature. To prevent hypothermia it is critical that the work force dress appropriately for the weather. Part of any outdoor contractors’ winter safety check should always be making sure that everyones apparel is appropriate for the elements. The supervisor or manager on site should also have a space or mylar blanket in their truck in the event anyone starts to exhibit symptoms.
Frostbite: The Mayo Clinic defines frostbite as an injury caused by freezing of the skin and underlying tissues. If frostbite is caught early and the skin is warmed, there is little risk of long term damage. When in doubt always consult a physician.
Dehydration: Sometimes in cold weather it is easy to forget that you need to drink water. When working in cold weather it is imperative that roofers remember to keep hydrating themselves throughout the day to avoid this condition.
4) How are the roads in the area?
While not directly related to the roof, snow and ice can present significant driving perils to your contractors and employees when they are trying to travel to your building location. If you are concerned about an incoming storm system, it is wise to contact your preferred industrial roofing contractor ahead of time to make sure they are ready to assist you with any roofing snow removal needs.
When in doubt, always remember it is best to hire a professional to handle your roofing needs. You can rest confident that hiring TeamCraft will get the job done right and safe in any season. Please give us a call at (888)-766-3001.
