Top Tips for Tradesmen Working in Winter - Britmet Lightweight Roofing

With the night’s drawing in, leaves falling from the tree’s and the central heating being switched on we all know that winter is on its way. For many that work indoors they may be indifferent, however for our trades men and women this means extra thermal layers and extra safety precautions. Due to the reduced temperature, on-site risks are increased so here are a number of top tips to keep you safe over the autumn and winter months.

Dehydration

Few roofing contractors and tradespeople adapt a rehydration plan to their daily routine. By sure to remain vigilant on your daily water intake.

Bonus tip: Coffee is a well-known diuretic, stay away from this while performing outdoor winter work!

Falls

Every roof job should have a protection plan. Using temporary rooftop guardrails can protect your gang from falls, however, ‘fall-in-place’ accidents are more common and often occur when changing direction or altering the method of access. This can be anything from moving from a ladder onto a roof and vice versa. Be sure to check your footing in case you are stood near any ice. Sometimes roofers can even slip on an icy ladder and injure themselves before even getting to the roof.

Keep warm

When performing work in the winter, a 3-layer rule is the best mantra to follow:

Inner layer – this removes the body moisture
Insulation layer – a jumper is ideal for insulating the body
Exterior layer – a final layer is required to be water resistant

Snow and ice removal

Always remove ice and snow before accessing the roof but be sure to not overlook your own safety first. When removing ice from the roof, be sure to use salt, and only then when you are confident that all snow is removed your work can take place. Stepping on ice or snow can instantly make tradespeople lose their centre of gravity and slip – even on a flat roof!

Ensure all products are stored correctly

Regularly, roofing products are delivered to site wrapped on pallets. However, when these are unwrapped it is of the utmost importance to protect the products. From moisture damage.

Protection for unfinished projects

Cover any unfinished roofs at the earliest opportunity to prevent any damage from moisture and water saturation. Furthermore, avoid using wet battens where possible.

Finally, use dry fix where possible

Usefully, Britmet lightweight tiles are fully dry fix. This is ideal for winter conditions as mortar must not be mixed when the air is at or below 3°c and falling.

Date Posted: 15th October 2020