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 Safety First Hot off the press is SPRI's brand new "Safety Guide." While this manual is written for inspectors and/or salespeople who occasionally visit roof sites, roofing contractors and consultants may also find many of its recommendations helpful. This concise guide points out conditions that all people working around roofing projects should keep in mind. It may also help contractors formulate helpful advisories of their own and aid in training new employees. Although installers typically receive safety training, occasional visitors to a potential job site, such as estimators or salespeople, may not be as familiar with the necessary precautions. This is particularly important on roofs that may not yet be set up with the proper safety precautions because an active job is not in session. Likewise, maintenance personnel may find this manual of interest. Divided into eight sections, this useful guide discusses proper clothing and equipment choices, ground and roof checks, climbing safety, application, environmental conditions, first aid and safe driving pointers. Publication of this safety guide was spearheaded by Immediate Past President Stan Choiniere. "We're not assuming that this manual will teach you anything you don't already know," explains Choiniere, National Technical Manager at Olympic Fasteners, Agawam, MA, "but it will remind you to be more cognizant of your environment. And I think the fact that this is being published by an association means that it will carry more weight." Randy Giangiuli, Manager of Contractor and Project Field Services for Versico, Akron, OH, points out, "There are things you don't think of but should, such as insect infestation on a rooftop." Giangiuli remembers one instance, for example, when he was coming out of a hatch onto a roof and put his hands down onto a wasp nest. It points up the importance of first conducting roof and ground checks, as noted in SPRI's "Safety Manual." "Of course, this safety guide is meant to prompt your thinking concerning safety. This document is a tool intended to aid the roofing technician or professional to avoid common safety problems. It is not a substitute for OSHA guidelines or individual company policies and implementation techniques, " says Steven Moskowitz, Director of Technical Services and Application at Stevens Roofing Systems. SPRI's guide wisely notes, "The only real protection against an accident is anticipation, of not only what is likely to happen, what might happen, and how to protect against it. One of the largest causes of accidents is carelessness." Tripping hazards For example, survey the roof for objects that could cause a trip or a fall and avoid these conditions and objects including, but not limited to:
Always remember to "Survey the roof for electrical lines located within reach from the roof surface. Avoid any contact with these lines and maintain a 4' minimum distance away from any power line." Make sure that "Fire extinguishers must be readily accessible whenever adhesives are being used. A fire extinguisher, rated not less than 2A, should be provided. Travel distance from any point of the protected area to the nearest fire extinguisher should not exceed 100 feet." Plus, "Do not smoke when in proximity to flammable product (e.g. adhesives, sealants)." Wear sunscreen This safety manual suggests wearing a sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15. "Cover all exposed areas." Choiniere adds those areas could include the insides of your ears and nostrils on a very reflective roof surface. And "Use extreme caution when handling any metal equipment, tools, or material on the roof. Metal gets extremely hot." A later section of the guide urges people to "Avoid contact with organic materials that could be breeding grounds for biological organisms. Examples of such materials are:
This article previously appeared in the May 2002 edition of RSI Magazine. |
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