What are the rules about working on a roof in respect of health and safety. Can trades get on the roof by ladder and then roof ladder to do the work or do they always need scaffolding?
Health and safety - Roof work
- Thread starter mf1970
- Start date
Sponsored Links
I expect that it will be subject to a risk-assessment for each job. The act of erecting scaffolding is not without risk, and may be more risky than going up on a ladder to replace one tile, for example, so I would be surprised if it was mandatory. If there were a lot of tiles to replace, it may be difficult to argue that there was no need for scaffolding, but scaffolding seems OTT for just one.
Wot's risk assessment mean?
Jobs need to be assessed for risk before they are done. If erecting scaffolding was more hazardous than nipping up on a ladder to replace a single tile just above the guttering, for example, an employer or employee could be prosecuted for taking unnecessary risks, particularly if something went wrong.
If an accident occurred and the case went to court, the defendant could be asked whether it really was safer to haul up hundreds of scaffolding poles and erect a structure right the way around a house just to replace one tile. Most people can see that it isn't and wouldn't do it, but some people 'over-interpret' the Health and Safety at Work Act. Clearly, it is better to erect the scaffolding if the entire roof is to be replaced, or even a quarter of it, but for one tile in an easy to access location? Not really!
The risk assessment would identify whether scaffolding was advantageous - whether the risks of erecting it and taking it down were outweighed by the benefits, and would serve as documentary evidence that proper procedures were followed in event of an accident.
Sponsored Links
Do people actually get paid to asses risks?
Indeed they do, but most risk assessments are done by the people who do the job, or the foreman etc.
So anybody can be a risk assesor then?
Almost - some people are better-off working under supervision and having risks assessed for them!
Here you go: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg163.pdf
OK - thanks.
I am currently getting quotes for scaffold and getting the roof done. There are a number of roof slopes and single missing tiles on the roof. In general terms do single missing tiles need to be replaced or if left, will they tend to cause water ingress?
The major work, it appears, is a valley, where the tiles are cockled up.
View media item 17064
The roof could be accessed quite easily using a ladder on the flat roof (behind the bushes) - Is this a job that I could tackle myself? How easy would it be and what would be involved?
I am currently getting quotes for scaffold and getting the roof done. There are a number of roof slopes and single missing tiles on the roof. In general terms do single missing tiles need to be replaced or if left, will they tend to cause water ingress?
The major work, it appears, is a valley, where the tiles are cockled up.
View media item 17064
The roof could be accessed quite easily using a ladder on the flat roof (behind the bushes) - Is this a job that I could tackle myself? How easy would it be and what would be involved?
i would have a scaffold erected at the bottom of the valley (platform)to replace the lead/valley tiles, and use a roof ladder to do repairs to the rest of the roof.
always best to replace missing/broken tiles to keep your roof in a good state of repair.
Yeah, I know!
DIYnot Local
Staff member
If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.
Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.
Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local
Sponsored Links
