Part 2 – Safety Tools Make for Safe Roofers – Safety First – Why Pick a Safe Roofer?

In order to avoid all sorts of injuries and property damage, professional roofers must use a series of safety equipment. You’ll probably notice that some of these are also used by professionals in other construction-related jobs, and for good reason: they really work! When looking for professional roofers to hire, make sure these safety tools are part of their equipment.

Safety hat

Big, round and tough, nothing offers better head protection to a professional roofer than the safety hat, or hard hat, especially in an environment that features plenty of objects that can fall from at least eight feet. You want your roofers to have safety hats that are free of cracks or distortions that could compromise its protective functions.

Safety gloves

Roofing projects involve plenty of sharp things that come uncomfortably close to the hands such as nails, power tools, wood splinters, and others. Aside from being tough enough to resist puncturing, safety gloves also help cushion the blow of the occasional missed strike of a hammer. Most safety gloves also have some rubber pads that help improve grip and prevent electrocution.

Safety goggles

Small shards of glass, shingles, or wood shards can easily get into the eyes, potentially causing eye injury. Safety goggles keep those things out of the roofer’s eyes without obstructing their view. Impact goggles must be impact resistant since fragile ones are also likely to cause injury if something causes them to shatter.

Tether and tether plate

Also known as, the safety rope, the tether is connected to the roofer’s harness, and serves as the literal lifeline of a roofer working at roof altitude. In case of a slip, the tether (attached to the tether plate firmly secured on the roof) prevents the roofer from falling from the roof and minimizes injuries.

Safety boots

The roof has so many things that can punch through regular sneakers if stepped on, so safety boots are necessary for any professional roofer. Safety boots have extra thick soles, and are also treaded to provide extra grip to minimize slipping. Steel-toed safety boots provide extra protection against things that might fall on a roofer’s foot.

Safety is a two-way street! Find out what you can do as a homeowner to make your roofing project even safer in Part 3, the last part of this blog series, coming soon.