Common Commercial Roof Dangers to Avoid

If you’re looking at commercial roof contractors in Des Moines, it’s critical that you find a company that takes roofing safety seriously. One might think that all commercial roofing contractors practice high safety standards. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. To avoid any legal issues regarding potential injuries, it’s important to work with a roofing contractor who’s insured. This way, if something happens, you won’t be liable for any potential damages. 

Shamrock Roofing and Construction specializes in commercial roof repair in the Des Moines area. We know how crucial on-the-job safety is. That’s why business owners think of us when they need flat roof repair. We go to great lengths to keep our job sites free of debris or other items that may cause accidents. We’re licensed and insured, too, so business owners don’t have to worry about taking on unnecessary liability.

Here are a few of the most common hazards we’ve come across when working on commercial roofs. Make sure any commercial roofing contractor you hire knows how to handle these situations safely.

Skylights

While skylights look good and are a great source of natural light, they can also be deadly. One wrong move and a worker can easily step through a skylight, leading to terrible injury or worse. This is why every skylight should be covered in netting or cages to ensure that no one gets hurt. Before anyone goes up on the roof, make sure they know there’s a skylight up there.

Soft Spots

Flat roofs are notorious for having soft spots due to water damage. This can happen if there’s a drainage issue or if the roofing material has deteriorated. Experienced commercial roof contractors in Des Moines know how to spot this type of damage and  take the necessary precautions to avoid getting hurt.

Steep Angled Roofs

Steeply angled roofs are less common on commercial roof , but they do exist. You see them sometimes when offices open in old houses that have been rezoned for commercial use. Roofs with especially steep slopes can be challenging for inexperienced roofers. The experts at Shamrock Roofing have seen it all and know the proper steps to take to ensure no one accidentally slips and falls off a steeply angled roof.

Inadequate Edge Protection

Experienced roofing professionals know how important it is to take precautions to ensure that workers don’t misjudge how close they are to the edge of the roof. This is surprisingly easy to lose track of if the contractor is preoccupied with looking for water damage or working with equipment on the roof. To reduce the risk of an accident, a warning line should be drawn that delineates 15 feet from the roof’s edge to ensure that workers know when they’re getting close to the edge.

Proper Roof Access

OSHA recently updated its safety requirements and has mandated a fall protection system for roof ladders more than 24 feet tall. In the past, roofers were only required to have a cage system around the ladder. This has now been deemed unsafe by OSHA standards. Instead, it is recommended that a self-retracting line should be used from above. If that’s not possible, the roofer should use a center cable as a harness.

Call Experienced Professionals for Flat Roof Repair

Commercial roof repair on Des Moines properties is quite safe when handled by professional roofers who know what they’re doing. If you’re looking for commercial roof contractors in Des Moines who can be trusted to follow proper safety protocols, contact us at  Shamrock Roofing and Construction. We have over 55 years of experience in the roofing industry. You can be sure we’ll meet all your commercial roofing needs — safely and without incident.