How Can Roofers Gain Safe Access to a Roof in Thursley to Undertake Repairs or Replacements?
When scheduled or emergency roof repairs are needed, or if a roof is in need of replacement, how does a team of roofers gain safe access to the workspace? These services and many others in Thursley, such as chimney repairs, leadwork, roof rebuilding, guttering work and fascia and soffit replacements usually involve work-at-height risks.
The job of a roofing company is to assess and control them.
And, of course, roofers need to consider the impact of access on the property and the risks that might affect customers or the public.
This will naturally leave you with some questions:
- How will the tradesperson reach their workspace safely?
- Will ladders or scaffolds damage the property’s façade?
- Am I at personal risk from objects falling from a roof?
- Can the job be managed safely through to its completion?
We understand that a property owner in Thursley could have a concern or two over access, so we discuss these before roofing work starts.
What Does Safe Access Mean?
When roofers talk about safe access, they are referring to how their route to the workspace should be designed and implemented, having a secure and stable platform to work on and putting systems into place that enable them to return to ground level safely, keeping the risks of falls and injuries to a minimum.
With some services, like emergency roof repairs or urgent repairs to chimneys, the decisions of a roofing company must be fully informed.
If they are not, a repair in Thursley cannot be started.
Response times must be fast for emergency work, but not so fast that the wrong choice is made and our roofers are at risk. This is why a company like L. Berry Roofing will already have risk assessments and method statements in place. These enable faster but safer decisions.
Safe Access Methods
Roofers have ladders or smaller modular access systems in their vans and these can be suitable for low-height work. But as the height of a job in Thursley increases, so does the risk. A roofing company of good standing will have established relationships with specialists in access equipment and can have this equipment brought to a site.
The risks associated with roof repairs, chimney repairs or leadwork, or guttering, fascia and soffit replacements, can be managed using the appropriate access system.
Safe-access systems used in Thursley include:
Ladders
Only a correctly secured crawling or roof ladder should be used over short durations for smaller works when a larger platform won’t fit.
Scaffolding
Erected around buildings, with edge protection, to prevent falls for projects over longer durations or if sloped ground is problematic.
MEWPs
Mobile Elevating Work Platforms are cherry pickers or scissor lifts that may be used over short durations if a scaffold isn’t needed.
Temporary Access Staircases
These are semi-permanent structures that lead roofers to roof doors, or to access hatches, so primary transitions are safely completed.
Access Platforms
Low-level access platforms assist the roofing company with a modular system that offers safe footing and edge protection on flat roofs.
Putting Contractor & Customer Safety First
L. Berry Roofing takes the safety and welfare of its contractors and customers seriously so, whether the job is to provide emergency roof repairs, or to repair, restore or replace a dilapidated roof, an initial assessment is made when we arrive at a site in Thursley so we can determine the safest access method from those listed above.
Our roofers are required to follow method statements at all times.
For jobs needing specialist work, we can also undertake bespoke risk assessments and will then go on to create unique method statements.
Safety is the priority with all services, including:
- Repairs for Pitched Roofs
- Repairs for Flat Roofs
- New Roofs & Replacements
- Chimney Repairs & Leadwork
- Guttering Replacements
- Fascia & Soffit Replacements
When people and property are at risk, we are responsible for keeping them safe and protected. We maintain high safety standards on every roofing project in Thursley and in all surrounding areas of Surrey.
You can contact us during business hours with any further questions.