Almost 20% of construction-related accidents involve roof work. Working at height can be extremely dangerous, but taking the right safety steps and using appropriate materials will significantly reduce the risk. Read the following guide before you begin your roof installation and take the necessary precautions to ensure your safety, the safety of those around you, and the successful installation of your new roof.

Carry out a detailed risk assessment

Putting in place a proper risk assessment won’t take long and could save you time, money and pain! List all the people who will take part in the installation along with the materials and equipment you will be using. Make sure that all workers read and understand the risk assessment before work begins. You will need to ensure that:

• There is safe access to the roof, for example using scaffolding, secured ladders or stair towers
• Roof edges and openings are secure to stop people falling or dropping materials. You will need to use scaffolding for sloping roofs. You may also wish to fit edge protection (such as a double guardrail and toe board) to the eaves of your roof
• Workers are aware of fragile surfaces and roof lights to prevent falls or damage to the roof. Barriers or covers should be used and labelled in particularly fragile areas
• Protective wear is worn at all times
• Equipment is transported safely and used only by those who know how to handle it

Choose the right equipment and materials

When choosing your equipment and materials, make sure that you don’t cut corners. Use the right equipment for each task so that the installation process is both safe and effective. Using inadequate tools could endanger you and your team, and could potentially lead to problems such as roof leakage.

Choosing the right materials is also key. It’s best to work with lightweight roof tiles where possible as these will be easier to transport and fit. It’s worth investing in high-quality roof tiles so that your roof doesn’t need to be regularly maintained and won’t need to be repaired or replaced in the near future, which would open you up to further and unnecessary risk.

Follow Metrotile’s installation videos

As well as providing high-quality steel roof tiles, Metrotile is concerned with the safety of those who choose to install our tiles themselves. To help you get it right, we’ve put together a number of handy videos. Watch these carefully before you start your roof installation to ensure that the right security protocols are in place. Our tips will also help get your installation right the first time.

Contact us today to find out more about our steel roof tiles and the best way to install them. You can call us on 01249 658 514 or fill in our contact form and we will get back to you.