Safely Accessing Your Facility’s Roof

Unless you’re Santa Claus, you’re likely not accessing your facility’s roof via magic sleigh. For the rest of us who climb a ladder, it can be daunting and dangerous. Let’s review some best practices when it comes to accessing a flat roof.

Ladder Set-Up: Surface

While some facilities are equipped with permanent interior or exterior ladders affixed, others require a ladder to be set up. Always set up a ladder on a solid, flat surface. If the ladder is sitting on a hard surface like concrete or asphalt, use rubber feet to level it. If the ladder is sitting on a soft surface like grass, turn the feet upside down and use the spikes to imbed the ladder into the ground until it is level.

Ladder Set-Up: Ratio

All ladders should be set up with a four-to-one ratio, meaning for every four feet in height, the ladder should be angled out by one foot. See drawing. You can test the ratio by performing what is called the “fireman’s check”. See photo example. Stand straight with your toes touching the feet of the ladder and stick your arms straight out to touch the ladder.

Ladder Set-Up: Roof Edge

The ladder should extend a minimum of three feet above the roof edge. A good rule of thumb to follow is four rungs of the ladder should be above the top of the roof – this is approximately three feet. In addition, ladders should be tied off with a ratchet strap at the roof edge.

Climbing a Ladder Safely

You should maintain three points of contact while climbing a ladder, meaning you should always have at least one hand and two feet; or two hands and one foot on the ladder. Lift only one hand or one foot at a time. See diagram.

Do not carry anything in your hands while on a ladder, including tools, a phone, etc. Use a backpack or pocket instead.

Always make sure your boots or shoes are clean and dry before using the ladder, both ascending and descending.

Rooftop Safety

As you enter the rooftop, stay alert. Be on the lookout for roof hatches and skylights, which are extremely dangerous to anyone on a roof. In fact, 10% of roofing fatalities happen because of skylights.

Check the weather forecast prior to accessing the roof and stay vigilant of weather changes while on the roof.

Fall protection is required on a rooftop unless there are 39” or greater parapet walls all the way around the roof’s edge. OSHA requires perimeter warning lines to be set up 6’ from the roof edge but check your local guidelines for additional requirements. Some states, like North Carolina, require more.

Accessing your facility’s roof can be a dangerous endeavor so only do so when absolutely necessary. When in doubt, contact a qualified roofing provider to inspect and service your roof.