In this episode, Jerry discusses basic roof safety tips for those of you putting your own Christmas lights up on the roof this year.
Podcast Transcription-RoofLifeB018-145:
Shayla: Thank you for joining us today for the Roof Life of Oregon podcast. I’m talking with Jerry. And, Jerry, today we want to talk about safety tips for getting on the roof. You say it’s leak season there and a lot of homeowners are attempting to fix themselves.
Jerry: We do need to talk a little bit about safety because we are in the middle of leak season and when leaks occur, everyone’s trying to get to your house as quickly as possible, but there are times that you just really need to get that water to stop. So what I’m going to do is give you just a few tips on how to get on that roof, if you must. We do not condone it. We do not advise it. At all costs, please stay off your roof, because it is the fifth most dangerous job in the country, roofing it. So don’t take it lightly, when you’re getting up on there.
Step number one. Make sure you have the proper ladder. Do not use a step ladder, an A-frame ladder to get on your roof, because those are typically underneath the gutter, and when you try to get on your roof, it will slip out from underneath you, you’ll kick it out, and it just makes it very difficult to get on there. So if you must get on your roof, get a proper ladder. Get a long, extension ladder that can extend at least three rungs above the gutter line. And then, make sure your strap that ladder off, because what happens, if you’re on that roof, a gust of wind comes up, knocks the ladder down, and you’re stuck on your roof. It’s happened to every one of us. It’s happened to every one of the consultants, all of our installers, and all of our maintenance guys. Don’t let it happen to you. So just be very, very careful getting on that roof.
And that’s really the biggest key is getting on and off the ladder. Make sure you have three points of contact. One hand on a rung, one hand on the roof, one foot on the roof, just don’t let yourself willy-nilly and hang out up there. Just be careful.
Shayla: Explain a little bit of the steps you guys take to be safer on the roof.
Jerry: When our guys are up there actually doing the repairs and doing the work, especially on steeper pitched roofs, they are going to be strapped off or roped off, or they’re going to have a second guy, if there is no harness or if there is no safety anchor up there. If there is not a safety anchor up there, we are going to have a safety guy up there to help keep the other one up on that roof. This way, they don’t fall up. So it’s not something to take lightly. Just be very careful. We can’t stop you from going on your roof, but what we can do is at least give you a tip or two to keep you safe and be able to have dinner with your family, later on, that night, and not in a hospital, fixing your broken leg.
Shayla: So if you do spring a leak during the season, the best thing to do, of course, is to get a hold of Roof Life of Oregon. But if you decide to take things into your own hands, please take Jerry’s advice and be as safe as you can. If you have any questions, reach out to the team today. Thanks, Jerry.
Jerry: You bet.