Roofing’s Dirty Little Secret

The roof estimator has a unique challenge. He fights through traffic, weather and a myriad of maps only to climb onto a roof he is unfamiliar with and is obviously in need of repair. Wishing he had two extra hands he carefully climbs to the roofs ridge only to fumble with paper, pencil, tape measure and the occasional cell phone call. Doing his best to avoid loose shingles and soft spots he attempts to measure every hip, ridge, valley, gable and dormer. He is not as spry as he used to be and has had plenty of slips but he is no stranger to roofs and he knows how far he can push it.

The roof estimator does this dance roof after roof without an anchor, a rope, a net or a scaffold, and he does it “for free”. He does this dance because he needs the money. Don’t misunderstand, he is a man of common sense; if he had an anchor he’d rope-off, but the last time someone was on this roof anchors were not code. If the roof was a straight gable he’d measure it from the ground, but they don’t teach architects how to do that anymore. Why not pound an anchor into the roof? Well aside from the cost of putting an anchor into every roof you estimate whether or not you have the sale, who is liable should the next estimator, or heaven forbid, homeowner fall from your anchor? No, that is not the answer either.

All by himself, the roof estimator is working without a net…

What are the fall protection standards that apply to our industry? 

Roofers 411 would like to share some important OSHA information so we all know what the standards are and the requirements for meeting them.

This link takes you to the OSHA information that applies to our industry:

 http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10757

Of particular importance and two OSHA standard sections well worth reading are 1926.501 (b)(10) and 1926.501 (b)(11).  Suffice it to say those two sections cover the lion’s share of persons in our industry.  And, notice that each section uses the worker designation “employee.” The entirety of this 1926 section (Safety and Health Regulations for Construction) of the OSHA standard clearly states that fall protection is an employers’ responsibility.

Now, what about exceptions to those standards?

  Check out this OSHA link:

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10756

According to this section, in situations where you need to get on a roof for inspection or for estimating prior to the start of the actual construction work, an employer is NOT held to the same standards.

Any one of us, but particularly estimators and adjusters, could easily fall into that situation.  If the employer is not required to provide the estimator fall protection and OSHA does not hold the employer liable, the roof estimator truly is “working without a net!”

What is the answer?

Roofers411 is a great way to protect everyone.  There’s no need to climb a roof just to measure. Roofers411 does all the measuring for you.  A Roofers411 roof report provides a comprehensive roof plan that delivers all the information you need to generate your estimate, eliminate undue liability, offering 3rd party credibility and at a very low fixed cost.

So if you are tired of working without a net…

Roofers411 is truly the no-risk, safe approach!

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