Do You Need Scaffolding For All Roofing Jobs?

Carrying out work on roofs is a high risk. If you are busy working at height on roofing jobs, you need to ensure your safety is put first whilst on the job. Much of the official health and safety advice, including from HSE GOV UK, states precautions are needed to control safety risks, as it’s highly dangerous. But, is scaffolding required for all roofing jobs? 

So, do you need scaffolding for all roofing jobs? If the job you are working on involves working on the entire roof, it will require scaffolding and there is no lenience with this. Furthermore, whether you require roof repair either big or small, safety is essential, so make sure the scaffolding is erect before any roofing repair begins.

Read on to find out the implications of not hiring scaffolding when working on roofing jobs.

Which Roofing Jobs Do You Need Scaffolding For?

All roofing jobs require you to erect scaffolding. The scaffolding is there to ensure the safety of the workers. Scaffolding also protects those on the ground, so think of scaffolding as further protection around the initial area of the roofing job which protects anybody who could enter this area.

Sloping roofs pose more risks than any other roof types, as materials and people could fall off the edge. To prevent hazards with sloping roofs, you must fit edge protection to the eaves of the roof, as well as the scaffolding. With a large percentage of fatalities occurring from falls from height, edge protection creates a very secure, safe working environment.

Domestic roof work must also be fitted with edge protection as well as the scaffolding. Make sure to fit scaffolding at the front and back if it is a terraced property. Chimneys also need scaffolding in some scenarios.

Which Scaffolding Should I Use For My Roof?

When it comes to roofing jobs, you will most likely require scaffolding designed for maintenance or repair work on roofs, such as replacing cracked roof tiles and repairing gutters. However, the scaffolding you need will depend on:

• How complex the job is
• How long the scaffolding will need to stand for
• Available space and the ground conditions
• Budget

Scaffolding Types

Below you’ll find more information about the different types of scaffolding available, and some examples of the types of projects that they’re ideal for. 

• Aluminium Scaffolding – This is ideal for short term roofing projects, or if the work access is a little awkward. Aluminium scaffolding can be erected up to twice as fast as traditional scaffolding, so it’s quite handy for any roofing emergencies.
• Traditional Scaffolding – This is great for long term or semi permanent roofing projects. The scaffolding is durable to hold heavy materials and machinery which need to be used at height.
• Indoor Scaffolding – This is perfect for indoor roof maintenance on churches or old buildings, tall ceilings, and homes which requires a solid and sturdy platform.
• Mobile Scaffolding – This is good for Interior roof maintenance which allows you to move the scaffolding as you work – perfect for tall ceilings. It is also useful for interior and exterior decorating, or any jobs where you need a mobile tower to conveniently reach heights. 

Learn more about the different types of scaffolding and their uses in our recent blog, to help you further understand which appropriate scaffolding to hire for your roofing job. 

Long-Term Roofing Project Requirements

If your project is expected to last a long period of time, you need to factor this in when choosing your scaffolding as this comes with its own set of requirements – as a minimum long-term scaffolding needs to be safely maintained once a week at least. Find out more about long-standing scaffolding and maintenance requirements here.

Roof Work Risk Assessments

Before erecting the scaffolding, risk assessments must be carried out as assessing the risks will further help  you to understand which scaffolding should be used for your specific job. Roof work risk assessment usually ask you to think about and report on:

• Potential roof work hazards
• Outline who would be affected by the hazards and how
• Evaluate risks you have identified and make a decision on how to prevent them.
• Record your findings and review these steps during the roof work.

Roof Scaffolding Need To Knows:

1. Almost one in five deaths in construction involve roof work.
2. The main cause of death or injury are falling from roof edges, or falling through fragile roofs.
3. Roofing accidents can be avoided if suitable equipment is used, as well as relevant information, training and supervision.

Roof Scaffolding Hire With Hi Point Access

At Hi Point Scaffolding, we’re here to assist with your roofing work and repairs. Whether you are looking for traditional scaffolding, aluminium scaffolding, or even indoor scaffolding, there’s no project too big or too small to assist you with your roofing jobs. Our experienced team is here to help. Simply get in touch with us to receive your free quote to cater for your roof scaffolding needs.

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FAQs

What is Scaffolding Used For? 

Scaffolding is used to support various types of constructions on buildings or homes to provide a safe working environment for workers, along with providing a stable structure to lift heavy materials and equipment up to higher levels. 

When is Scaffolding Needed? 

Scaffolding is needed on a construction site or residential area where access to higher stories of the building is restricted. It allows easy and safe access to any region of a building’s exterior, where height limitations and health and safety risks would otherwise be much more severe.

At What Height Do You Need to Use Scaffolding? 

The height requirements for scaffolding are 6 feet above a lower level. You can find out further information regarding scaffolding height in our recent blog.