Safety Matters
How To Set Up Your Low-Slope Roofing Project Safely
LADDER
• Before setting up the ladder, inspect it for defects.
• The ladder should extend three feet over the top of
the building and be secured.
• For every four feet of building height, the base
of the ladder should be set one foot away from
the building.
• Set the ladder on firm ground and make sure that
it is secure.
• While climbing up or down, face the ladder at all
times and keep at least one hand on the ladder.
HOT KETTLE OPERATIONS
• Position the kettle carefully in relation to the
building and pedestrians, and in a stable location.
Surround the kettle with warning lines.
• The kettle lid should open away from the building,
and be closed whenever you are not loading
asphalt.
• Operators always have to wear proper personal
protective equipment (PPE):
- L ong pants without cuffs should come over the
tops of sturdy work boots.
- L ong-sleeved shirt cuffs should button over the
cuffs of appropriate gloves.
-M
ust wear a face shield attached to a hard hat.
It is recommended to wear safety glasses or
goggles under the face shield as well.
• Be careful when lighting the burners – never use
matches or lighters; use a spark igniter.
• Increase the kettle temperature and add bitumen
slowly. Never allow kettle tubes to be exposed.
• Know how to put out fires in case one occurs. Close
the lid immediately and turn off the burners.
• Tarp the side of the building.
CHUTE
• Trash chutes provide one of the safer methods for
removing trash from the roof.
• Trash chutes are required when roofs are more
than 20 feet high.
• They must be secured to the building, and a
guardrail system should be placed around and
behind the chute.
• A chain should be put across the opening to the
trash chute when there is no activity at the chute.
DUMPSTER
• Keeping up with the trash as you go is much
easier than waiting to clean it all up at the end
of the day.
• Tarp the side of the building.
HOISTS
• Inspect hoists daily, making sure guardrails are
intact and in place.
• Do not exceed a hoist’s rated capacity.
• A qualified signalperson is required if the area of
load travel or placement is not in full view of the
operator.
• Always use enough counterweight. The suggestion
is to use two pounds of counterweight for every
one pound of load. Do not use construction
materials as counterweight.
PERIMETER LINES
• Warning lines are for use on roofs that are six
feet or higher.
• Flags need to be on the line every six feet.
• The height from the roof surface to the warning
line must be between 34–39 inches.
• When there is no mechanical equipment being
used, the lines have to be set six feet from all
edges.
• When mechanical equipment is being used,
the lines must be ten feet from the edge in the
direction the machine operator is traveling and
six feet in on the sides.
SAFETY MONITOR
• The safety monitor must be a competent person
who:
- Has been trained to recognize and anticipate
hazards, and is authorized to take immediate
corrective action.
- Is close enough to orally communicate with
employees.
- Is on the same work surface and within sight
of employees.
- Does not have other duties that distract him
from properly monitoring the employees.
SKYLIGHT COVERS
• Employees must be protected from falling through
holes in the roof. A hole is defined as any roof
opening that is at least two inches wide.
• Protection from falls through roof openings and
skylights can be in the form of personal fall arrest
systems, covers, or guardrail systems.
•Covers must either be color coded, or have the
words “HOLE” or “COVER” painted on them to
warn all employees.
• If a cover is used, it must be capable of withstanding at least two times the weight of the workers
and materials that are likely to be placed on it.
WEIGHT LOAD DISTRIBUTION
• Avoid point loading of roof deck (having
concentrated loads of material in one area).
ROUND FAULT CIRCUIT
G
INTERRUPTER
• A grounding program is designed to ensure that
equipment and extension cords are properly
grounded.
• A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is a
sensitive circuit breaker that detects small changes
in amperage and trip very quickly.
• A GFCI must be used to protect all electrical tools
and extension cords. Therefore, this must be placed
at the energy source.
NEATNESS OF WORKPLACE
• Poor housekeeping presents hazards to
employees, bystanders, and property.
• Keep all materials and trash away from
entryways, exits, and regular foot traffic.
• Tools and equipment should be put away
after use.
WORKER ATTIRE
• Hard hat.
• Eye protection – goggles or safety glasses.
• Hearing protection – whenever you are around
loud equipment.
• Hand protection – gloves with snug-fitting cuffs.
• Appropriate clothes – long sleeves, long pants
without cuffs, and heavy work boots. Cotton or
denim provide the best protection.
©2014 GAF 12/14 • #848 • COMGN364