SA Affordable Housing September - October 2019 // ISSUE: 78 | Page 15

FEATURE
Working at height has a lot of
depth – Part 2
In part two of this article, we continue to look at working at height,
with a focus on roofing and ceilings.
Contibuted by Institute of Work at Height
A
health and safety concern is that a fall from height is
the most serious hazard associated with roof work.
Preventing falls from roofs is a priority and it is expected
from principals, employers, and contractors with staff working
on roofs to actively manage any potential for falls.
Investigations into falls while working at height show:
• more than 50% of falls are from less than 3m
• most of these falls are from ladders and roofs
More injuries occur on residential building sites than any other
workplace in the construction sector, and of falls experienced
by roofers:
• 20% were over three metres in height
• 40% were from permanent structures such as roofs
These guidelines give all who are involved with working on
roofs a clear direction on how to manage the work in a way
that will bring down the death and injury toll.
The Best Practice Guidelines for Working on Roofs provides
practical guidance to employers, contractors, employees,
designers, principals, persons who control a place of work, and
architects who are engaged in work associated with roofing.
Workers who need to access roofs and to whom these
guidelines will apply include:
• roofers
• builders
• plumbers
• heating and ventilation installers
• air conditioning installers
• painters
• installers of telecommunications equipment
• demolition contractors
• home or property owners or inspectors
• chimney sweeps.
LEGAL REFERENCES:
What are the legal aspects and requirements for working
on roofing? Various legal references contained in the
Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS) with specific
reference to:
• Section 8 (duties of employers)
www.saaffordablehousing.co.za
• Regulations 9 (risk assessments)
• Regulations 10 (fall protection plans)
• General Safety and Administrative regulations
As for all companies the OHS Act takes relevance when working
on roofs. As per Section 8 of the OHS Act –
1. Every employer shall provide and maintain, as far as
is reasonably practicable, a working environment that
is safe and without risk to the health and safety of his
employees.
2. Without derogating from the generality of an employer’s
duties under sub-section (1), the matters to which those
duties refer include in particular:
a. A provision and maintenance of systems of work,
plant and machinery that, as far as is reasonably
practicable, are safe and without risks to health;
b. Taking such steps as may be reasonably practicable
to eliminate or mitigate any hazard or potential
hazard to the safety of employees, before resorting to
personal protective equipment;
c. Making arrangements for ensuring, as far as is
reasonably practicable, the safety and absence of
risks to health in connection with the production,
processing, use, handling, storage or transport of
articles or substances;
d. Establishing, as far as is reasonably practicable,
what hazards to the health and safety or persons
are attached to any work which is performed, any
article or substance which is produced, processed,
used, handled, stored or transported and any plant or
machinery which is used in his business, and he shall
as far as is reasonably practicable, further establish
what precautionary measures should be taken;
e. With respect to such work, article, substance, plant
and machinery in order to protect the health and
safety of persons, and he shall provide the necessary
means to apply such precautionary measures;
f. Providing such information, instructions, training and
supervision as may be necessary to ensure, as far as is
reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work
of his employees;
g. As far as is reasonably practicable, not permitting any
employee to do any work or to produce, process, use,
handle, store or transport any article or substance
or to operate any plant or machinery, unless the
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