Best Practice Guidelines for Working on Roofs
The Best Practice Guidelines for Working on Roofs [pdf 1.74MB] outlines how people working on roofs, and those associated with the work, can meet their obligations under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 (HSE Act) and the HSE Regulations 1995.
The Best Practice Guidelines for Working on Roofs is published by the Department of Labour and has been prepared in association with the Roofing Association of New Zealand (RANZ).
The guidelines provide practical guidance to employers, contractors, employees, designers, principals, persons who control a place of work, and architects who are engaged in work associated with roofing.
The guidelines apply to a wide range of work situations where workers are placed in a position from which falls are possible. These situations include new roof installations, re-roofing, repairs and maintenance work on roofs.
Importance is placed on managing the hazards associated with working on roofs by identifying hazards through planning, assessing, and controlling the hazards. This includes planning safe access to the roof, inspecting the roof for potential height hazards, and identifying and assessing brittle roofing.
Guidance is provided for how to select the appropriate equipment for safely working on the roof as well as controls to prevent falls from height. Controls include edge protection, scaffolding, roof ladders, safety mesh, safety nets, total restraint, work positioning and fall arrest systems.
Hazards associated with working on roofs such as electricity, the weather and environment, and falling debris are also covered in the guidelines. Preventing falls from height including roofs is a priority for the Department of Labour. Doing nothing is not an option.
