Safety Tips Shoveling Snow Off The Roof

This morning it was all on the ground.

Safety tips shoveling snow off the roof.

From a couple of roofers i was taught about the safety of shoveling off snow from the roof. Safe roof snow removal can be achieved only if you combine thorough preparation with trained workers proper protection well maintained equipment and a healthy respect for the outdoor elements. Roofs that are flat also have a maximum snow load they can carry. If you do lift it use a small shovel or only.

But if you do have to get the snow off the roof here are some tips from fema for removing snow safely and effectively. Workers performing snow removal operations are exposed to many serious hazards. Excess snow on the roof can weaken and potentially collapse a structure particularly an older building with a shallow pitched roof. Shoveling snow off your roof.

Melting the snow in lieu of removal may cause localized overloading of the roof. My neighbor has a low pitched 4 12 roof that is steel. This can be extremely dangerous and is best left to professionals. National safety council recommends the following tips to shovel safely.

Shovel only fresh powdery snow. Deep snow on a roof can bury a gas appliance flue causing the exhaust to enter the home. It seems like the roofers that taught me sure knew about this from their height safety class as well as from personal experience. Leaks roof collapse ice damming and more can result from too much snow and ice staying too long on your roof.

Push the snow rather than lifting it. Last night i noticed about an 18 inch overhang of snow ice mix. If your flat roof is easily accessible from an interior stairway you may want to shovel the roof but be careful not to damage the roof covering. Clearing the snow off your roof from the gutters or eaves upwards of three to four feet after each winter storm can help prevent ice dams from forming.

Take it slow and stretch out before you begin. That s why i prefer to have my father or even a professional come over to my roof and shovel away the snow. Don t use mechanical snow removal equipment. Workers may fall off roof edges through skylights and from ladders and aerial lifts.

Probably 12 inches in thickness when it was up there. There are potential dangers of shoveling or raking snow from a roof besides the collapse danger. Do not shovel after eating or while smoking. Workers may also be injured or killed by a roof.

Based on the findings of osha investigations falls cause the most worker fatalities and injuries during rooftop snow removal. There are the dangers of a person sliding off the roof falling from a ladder overexertion or falling snow sliding on top of them. The risk of damaging the roof. Check with a structural engineer before using water or a heating device to melt the snow.

What s the final word. To that end here are 8 tips on how to safely handle the rooftop snow removal process. We are in a little warm spell here after all the snow the last 10 days.