What is a Toe Board and how can roofers protect themselves?

Oct 25

Roofers are one of the few experts who appreciate the importance of safety for residential properties. Roofers have to think of inventive ways to ensure safety while working on a part of the property that's not intended for human beings to stand on.

To achieve this using a toeboard, it's an efficient and easy way to ensure the safety of roofers. There are a variety of other measures of safety that residential roofing Indianapolis professionals can employ to ensure their safety. They differ depending on the type of roof and the materials employed by the roofing contractor.

Here are some of the actions we take to ensure our workers are safe, regardless of how large or small the roofing we're working on:

Toe board: Board for your toes

If your home is built with an ordinary gable roof -- the inverted "V" which most people visualize when they think of houses--designed to let the rain runoff and keep you safe from the elements. The roof isn't, however, designed to serve as a platform.

Roofers On the other hand are entitled to move about on the roof while they're working in order to fix nails to shingles, fix damaged areas, or do tests. Toe boards are just one of the methods we use to move about on this type of roof, without the risk of falling.

A walkway is simply created by connecting a wooden board of varying lengths, such as a standard 24-inch board--to the ceiling. A majority of roofing contractors utilize the method of toe boards for security and staging issues.

While they should be fixed to the roof they will not cause damage if they are correctly removed. When looking for a roofing company ensure that, if they utilize a toe-board that they follow a correct removal process so you don't be left with leaks afterward.

Brackets for Roof Support

Similar to the toe boards, roof brackets let roofers construct any size of scaffold on the roof. Roof brackets also referred to as "roof jacks", are metallic fixtures that are covered with hardwood planks to provide safe work platforms.

Similar to the use of a toeboard requires the hammering of screws or nails into the roof and it's therefore essential that it's installed correctly to prevent it from becoming loose. It's also important to remove it carefully to prevent harm to the roof.

Harnesses for safety

Another item in the roofer's inventory to avoid injuries is the safety harness. The risk of falling and slipping, as you may think are the leading causes of accidents and deaths in the field of roofing. Accidents are most often caused by people who attempt to do a DIY job, or contractors not providing the proper protective equipment for workers.

Safety harnesses can be required in certain places where the roof is more than 10 feet.

Ladders for roofing

A ladder is a crucial component of roofing work. However, your roofer must carry the appropriate ladder to the job site. A ladder that is too small can cause slipping when standing on the roof.

It is recommended to secure the ladder to the roofing. This will give you extra safety and help prevent it from falling over. Roof ladders are designed for use on your roof. They're similar to any other extension ladder, but they can be secured to the roof's slope to make it easier for roofers to climb up and down. A roof ladder shouldn't be connected at higher than a 75-degree angle.

Properly instructed

Safety is about far more than having the right equipment. Be sure to ask regarding safety guidelines and be sure to inquire when considering the roofing business.

They will need to keep up-to-date on the various tools they utilize in their work. Safety meetings and inspections are also going to be required. All employees should go through safety training as soon as they begin their employment and all employees should be prepared to deal with any number of accidents or emergencies that could arise.