The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

BCRoofClean wrote:

---

Good morning and welcome to the ROOF CLEANING SAFTEY portion of the Roof Cleaning Institue Of America.

This has been created to insure the highest levels of safety standards be set and followed for all our roof cleaning brethren. I suggested said I would help out with this on the forum so Chris made me Safety Director, which comes with a huge pention plan and new Ferrari so I had to take the job!

I will be doing my best to dig up some Roof Cleaning Safety techniques and maybe post a video or two of what to do and what not to do as far as safety goes from time to time. Everyone is encouraged to post helpful topics regarding safety, any and all questions welcome to keep us roof cleaning brothers safe.

I would like to start a series of basic ladder/roof safety principles that all of us should already know.

Many of us come from different backgrounds and can apply different skillsets toward our unique trade which can collaborate many new ideas for keeping us all safe. I myself have had to be up on a roof for my profession since I was working summers with my father when I was a teenager, and I have known guys who have lost their lives and known guys who should have but pulled through and these are men who spent everyday on a ladder or roof. I am sure everyone has stories like this as well. The goal here is to not have to post these stories because everyone is using the safest methods available and stays safe.

The unfortunate truth is that getting up on a roof is a must in this profession, although it can be greatly avoided at times it is inevitable and frankly, the method of choice for some.

Be safe!
Jerry Cronin

---

Great idea Jerry.  Although roof cleaning is a new endeavor for us, I have been on thousands of roofs over the years while inspecting them.  I know people that have been seriously injured due to falls and take ladder safety very seriously.  The only things a person can rely on when climbing on a roof (or at least working at the eaves) is the ladder they use, some safety accessories, and common sense.  It only takes one bad mishap to change your life for the worse.  We don't skimp on ladders (we inspect them and replace when required).  Safety accessories are just as important as the ladder itself.  We strongly believe in the use of ladder stabilizers.  I recently posted information on  (The Spider Gutter Protector/Ladder Stabilizer).  I am not a sales rep for this product nor do I have an vested interest in this company.  I'm just very impressed with the level of safety this seems to provide.  I received this stabilizer last week and have used it 10 times so far and am very impressed overall.  It is heavier compared to some other stabilizers, but not too awkward.  And once your ladder is set up, I feel very safe while climbing and maneuvering on and off the roof and working along the eaves.  It has a very large support structure.  More importantly, it is adjustable to fit the needs of the individual along with the contour of the roof.  The wide stabilizer handles can be turned in various directions which I find very useful when wanting extra support and grasping ability while at the top of the ladder. It also allows safe ladder mobility at the corners of homes (when that rare occasion calls for it).  We also use ladder levels on occasion when the ground does not provide any flat surface.  I have not used a harness yet, but do own one.  Normally, if the roof is too steep, I just work at the eaves.


This link takes you to a Youtube video:  Just copy and paste:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDC_lBN6PgQ


This link takes you to the website:  Just copy and paste:

http://www.gutterprotector.net/protect/