Edge protection and man anchors could be necessary precautions, even if you have a clean safety record and well trained staff.
The Health & Safety Executive recently fined a Hounslow roofing company £5,000, with £4,137 costs and a further £1,957 costs charged to the company director, after workers were caught on camera without adequate safety precautions in place.
No proper scaffolding had been erected, and the men were working on the roof of a house without man anchors, harnesses or other such restraints.
HSE inspector Jack Wilby said: “The fact that there was no incident in this case is immaterial – the danger was there and someone could have been injured, or even killed, at any time.”
The case is a clear indication that suitable edge protection and other precautions must be in place, not only to prevent actual incidents, but to demonstrate a proactive approach on any potential dangers.
Where work is carried out regularly, fixed safety barriers can be the best way to achieve this – not only protecting individuals working on the roof, but also preventing objects from falling on to anyone passing below.