Roofers’ Occupational Risks
In the construction industry, there are many sub parts that should be done in large groups such as surface refining, masonry, and other concerns to build the wanted building design. One of the most vital part of every seen building around the world and shines the most is the roof. They are largely done in group of roofers where they work atop of a certain building.
So, who is a roofer? A roofer or roof mechanic is a specialized tradesperson who are mainly called or contracted and heavily involved in roof construction, arrangements, repair, and installment of roof in buildings using different materials to cater every buildings’ needs and inadequancies in terms of weather and environment protection.
In extension, roofers do work as well on covering new or old roofs with various materials such as asphalt, bitumen, plastic sheets, ceramic tiles, slate plates, and wooden thatch, and others.
Dangers of this Occupation
- Roofers’ nature of job is working at heights, meaning they have chances of sustaining injuries or being killed from the risks of slips, trips, and fall.
- Since they are openly exposed to weather, their materials and tools as well so they tend to work and touch them directly when they are situationally hot and they can get minor or major burns depending on the duration of their usage of the heated materials.
- Since they are on roofs, there are chances that they may came across with live electric wires and get struck by electric current.
- Commonly in construction industry, they tend to work with blunt and sharp materials that may result in sustenance of cut or any type of injury caused by sharp objects.
- Since they are working while exposed to hot or cold weather, they may develop some health issues.
- Substances used by roofers such as solvents, tar, asbestos, etc. are dangerous when constantly exposed and cause health issues such as cancer at an extent.
- Roofers and other jobs inside the construction industry commonly deal with heavy lifting as some things are not managable for lifting machines to bring on tight spaces so workers themselves lift them while also work with it.
Preventive Measures
According to International Labour Organization (ILO) previous researches, they have came up with some preventive measures to minimize the risks mentioned above such as:
- Strict implementation of safety belts, harness, fall suspension, body guard materials usage
- Wearing of rubber shoes or any non-slip shoes
- All electrical cables along connecting to the building should be turned down
- Wearing mask or any respiratory protection against solvent and other chemicals
- Provision of personal protective equipment & clothes (PPEs)
Call your Lawyer
If ever you or one of your family members who is working in construction industry that has been involved or has experienced an accident within a construction working zone as a victim occurred and though that the construction firm is partly liable for the accident occurred, you can always refer help from a professional experienced injury lawyer to smoothen things out and work together to unveil what malice and fraudulent activities was on behind the scenes.
Ryan Injury Lawyers is an Ohio based injury lawyer that represents victims of personal injury caused by car accidents, medical malpractice due to medical professional’s negligence, and even wrongful death against large companies, agencies and even individuals. We have 40 years of experience doing our service in this field and evidently successful with our civil litigations. Call our office now for free legal consultation.