To stay safe when doing roof repairs, as a general rule, a secured ladder should always be the last resort when accessing a roof. Other methods such as fixed access equipment, scaffold towers or similar systems should always be chosen over temporary equipment, as most of these systems provide the roofer with crawl boards or other safe places to work.
Secured ladders should only be used when there is not enough viable space to use any other platform system.
If you have to use a ladder to access a pitched roof, the user should always wear some form of personal fall protection. A suitable anchor point should be chosen and the worker anchored to this point in case of a fall or other accident.
Tool belts are a good way to keep tools at hand and also prevent them falling from the roof. If you cannot be sure that tools or materials will fall from the roof while working, it's important that you employ some sort of exclusion zone or netting to catch objects that may fall. It is all very well to ensure that those on the roof are safe, only to have someone on the ground injured by falling tools or debris.
The proper clothing is very important as well, sturdy footwear with grippy soles are obviously important but hard hats, visibility jackets, safety gloves, goggles and air filters, if necessary, all play their part to ensure that you finish the job without anyone getting hurt.
Staying safe and keeping those around you safe while working on a roof is a fundamental part of working at height and should always be your number one priority. Similarly, if you are employing a contractor to carry out your roof repairs, check whether they are paying sufficient attention to the details of their health and safety requirements (including liability insurance) and take into account the extra time and effort that's needed to deliver you a professional, safe roof repair.
