Safety Statement for a Roofing Contractor: Key Hazards and Controls
A Safety Statement for a roofing contractor must address falls from height, fragile roofs, adverse weather, manual handling, and asbestos.
# Safety Statement for a Roofing Contractor: Key Hazards and Controls Roofing is one of the most hazardous trades in the Irish construction industry. Falls from roofs are a leading cause of fatal accidents in construction, and roofing contractors face a distinctive set of risks that must be addressed in a Safety Statement that is specific to their work. A generic Safety Statement — one that could apply to any type of contractor — will not meet the legal requirements for a roofing company. The Safety Statement must be based on a risk assessment of the actual hazards involved in roofing work and must set out the specific controls that the company uses to manage those hazards. This guide explains what a Safety Statement for a roofing contractor must include, the key hazards that must be addressed, and how to ensure the document is suitable and sufficient. ## The Legal Requirement Under Section 20 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, every employer in Ireland must prepare a written Safety Statement based on a risk assessment of the hazards in the workplace. The Safety Statement must be specific to the employer's undertaking — it must reflect the actual work they carry out and the hazards they face. For a roofing contractor, this means the Safety Statement must address the specific hazards of roofing work: falls from height, fragile roofs, adverse weather, manual handling, and the other risks that are particular to this trade. ## Key Hazards for a Roofing Contractor ### Falls from Height Falls from height are the single greatest risk in roofing. Every year, workers are killed or seriously injured falling from roofs in Ireland. The risk is present on every roofing job, regardless of the height of the building or the pitch of the roof. The Safety Statement must address: - The requirement to carry out a risk assessment for every roofing job before work begins - The hierarchy of controls for falls from height: collective protection (edge protection, scaffolding) before individual protection (harnesses and lanyards) - The specific fall prevention measures to be used on different types of roof — pitched roofs, flat roofs, and fragile roofs - The requirement to inspect fall prevention measures before each working shift - The procedure for working near roof edges and openings The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, Part 4 sets out the legal requirements for work at height. These requirements must be reflected in the Safety Statement. ### Fragile Roofs Many roofs in Ireland contain fragile materials — older fibre cement sheets, certain types of rooflights, and deteriorated roofing panels. A worker who steps onto a fragile surface may fall through it without warning. The Safety Statement must address: - The requirement to identify fragile materials before starting work on any roof - The controls to be used when working on or near fragile materials — crawling boards, roof ladders, covers for rooflights - The requirement to mark fragile areas clearly - The procedure for dealing with unexpected fragile materials discovered during work ### Adverse Weather Roofing work is carried out outdoors and is directly affected by weather conditions. Wind, rain, ice, and frost all create additional risks for roofing workers. The Safety Statement must address: - The conditions under which work should be suspended — wind speeds, ice, or other conditions that make the work unsafe - The procedure for monitoring weather conditions and deciding when to stop work - The controls for working in wet conditions — non-slip footwear, additional edge protection ### Manual Handling Roofing involves significant manual handling — carrying tiles, slates, sheets, and other materials up ladders and across roofs. Manual handling injuries are common in roofing. The Safety Statement must address: - The requirement to assess manual handling tasks - The use of mechanical aids — hoists, conveyor belts — to reduce manual handling where possible - Manual handling training for workers - The maximum weights to be carried manually, particularly on ladders ### Roof Ladders and Access Equipment Access to roofs is typically by ladder or scaffolding. Ladders and access equipment must be suitable for the work and properly used. The Safety Statement must address: - The types of access equipment to be used for different types of roofing work - The requirement to inspect ladders and access equipment before use - The correct way to set up and use ladders — the correct angle, securing at the top, extending above the landing point - The requirement to use scaffolding rather than ladders for work that involves carrying materials or working for extended periods ### Working Near Roof Openings Roof openings — skylights, hatches, and areas where roof sections have been removed — are a significant falls risk. Workers can fall through openings that are not adequately protected. The Safety Statement must address: - The requirement to cover or protect all roof openings before work begins - The types of covers to be used — covers must be capable of supporting the weight of a person and must be secured to prevent displacement - The requirement to mark covered openings clearly ### Asbestos Many older buildings in Ireland have roofing materials that contain asbestos — particularly corrugated asbestos cement sheets. Roofing contractors who work on older buildings must be aware of the risk of asbestos and must have procedures in place to manage it. The Safety Statement must address: - The requirement to check for asbestos before starting work on any roof that may contain asbestos-containing materials - The procedure for dealing with suspected asbestos — stopping work, seeking advice, and engaging a licensed asbestos removal contractor if necessary - The requirement not to drill, cut, or break asbestos-containing materials ### Electricity Overhead power lines near roofs create a risk of electrocution. Roofing contractors must be aware of the location of overhead lines and must maintain safe working distances. The Safety Statement must address: - The requirement to identify overhead power lines before starting work on any roof - The safe working distances from overhead lines - The procedure for working near overhead lines — including the requirement to contact the network operator if work cannot be carried out safely at the required distance ## Structure of the Safety Statement A Safety Statement for a roofing contractor should include: **Company details and policy statement.** A commitment to health and safety signed by the owner or director. **Organisation and responsibilities.** Who is responsible for health and safety — the owner, the site supervisor, and each worker. **Risk assessments.** Specific risk assessments for falls from height, fragile roofs, manual handling, adverse weather, access equipment, roof openings, asbestos, and overhead lines. **Safe systems of work.** Written procedures for high-risk activities — working on fragile roofs, working near roof edges, working near overhead lines. **Training arrangements.** What training is provided — manual handling, working at height, asbestos awareness. **Emergency procedures.** What to do in the event of a fall or other emergency. **Accident reporting.** How accidents and near misses are reported and investigated. **Review arrangements.** When the Safety Statement will be reviewed. ## Keeping the Safety Statement Current The Safety Statement must be reviewed whenever there is a reason to believe it is no longer valid. For a roofing contractor, this includes when the company takes on a new type of roofing work, when there is a change in legislation, or when an accident or near miss reveals a gap in the existing arrangements. The HSA recommends annual review as a minimum. Given the high-risk nature of roofing work, more frequent review is good practice. ## Conclusion A Safety Statement for a roofing contractor must be specific to the hazards of roofing — falls from height, fragile roofs, adverse weather, manual handling, access equipment, roof openings, asbestos, and overhead lines. A generic document will not meet the legal requirements or protect workers effectively. If you need assistance preparing or reviewing a Safety Statement for your roofing business, Safety Check can help. We have extensive experience in construction safety and can prepare a Safety Statement that is tailored to your specific activities. Contact us at [safetycheck.ie/contact](https://www.safetycheck.ie/contact). ## References [1] Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, Section 20. Available at: https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2005/act/10/enacted/en/html [2] Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, Part 4 (Work at Height). Available at: https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2007/si/299/made/en/print [3] Health and Safety Authority - Work at Height. Available at: https://www.hsa.ie/eng/your_industry/construction/safety_topics/work_at_height/ [4] Health and Safety Authority - Safety Statement. Available at: https://www.hsa.ie/eng/your_industry/general_safety_and_health_management/safety_statement/