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Roofing work has long been associated with significant fire and property losses along with the highest incidents of construction worker accidents. Introduction Falls through fragile materials, such as roof lights and asbestos cement roofing sheets, account for more construction worker deaths than any other single cause. According to the Health and Safety Executive, almost one in five deaths in construction involve roofwork*. Furthermore, some roofing methods require the use of heat which brings with it the potential for personal injury and property fire incidents. *http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/roofwork.htm This guide from ECIC explains some of the current materials and application methods used in waterproofing and hotworks on roofs, the risks associated with roofing work and the Health and Safety environment in which roofers work today. Waterproofing and Hot Works In the past, waterproofing of roofs was largely done with bituminous felt roofing or asphalt with the application of heat to seal the material. This type of roofing tends to fall into two main types: • Reinforced Bituminous membranes are torch-on felts – this is where a polymer of modified bitumen is applied to the membrane during the manufacturing process. It is then torch applied at height, by the roofer using a gas torch. • Pour and roll is where boiling bitumen is carried in a bucket to the roof. It is then poured between two layers of roofing felt and the felt is rolled out to bond the layers together. Therefore the source of heat tends to be at ground level with the inherent risk of transporting the boiling bitumen up on to the roof. The development of both the materials used and techniques for application have moved the industry forward towards safer installation methods, eliminating the need for heat: • Liquid membranes are cold applied in a built up system usually incorporating a carrier membrane. They don’t require any heat for sealing but can be difficult to install in cold damp conditions. • Alternatively, Single Ply membranes are lightweight polymer sheers of membrane. The sheets are sealed at joints to form continuous waterproofing. This roofing solution offers safer, flame-free construction using hot-air welding, adhesives and fasteners. The fact remains however, that despite these advances, the risks to property and people are still very present. The Property Insurance implications Looking first at the risks of damage to property, historically the insurance sector has suffered from significant losses related to roofing work – both to the property on which work is being conducted and those neighbouring. The main causes for these losses have been: • The property being worked has not been properly protected from the elements • Poor quality roofing work and/or design resulting in damage from winds, rain, storm etc. • Leaking roofs causing damage to property • Damage to property caused by fires when inadequate risk management in respect of Hot Works, due to inadequate identification and management of combustible materials How the Insurance sector manages its exposures to Hot Works risks In respect of fires caused by Hot Works, Insurers will commonly manage their exposures by imposing a Hot Work/Fire Precautions Condition as a warranty precedent to liability. These conditions outline the minimum standards an Insured should be able to demonstrate that they work to when using the application of heat. Whilst these conditions are not standardised across the industry they typically include the following requirements: • A definition of the appliances they relate to • Best practice use of equipment including risk management controls • A thorough examination of the roof work and immediate vicinity prior to work commencing • Identification, removal and protection of combustible materials • Adequate fire extinguishers to be present • Specified timescales after the application of heat when a thorough examination of the work and vicinity should take place. • Where hot works cannot be undertaken in a safe way to prevent injury or damage to property, alternative methods of roofing should always be used. Precautions Conditions are usually set out clearly as part of a Public and Products Liability cover wording. Supporting Roofing Worker Safety From a Health and Safety perspective, there are a number of regulations, codes of practice, HSE guidance notes and principles that exist to protect worker safety, with the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974 at their core. The most recent of these is Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The CDM 2015 sets out responsibilities for contractors, workers and Principle contractors which apply to all aspects of construction work, including roofing: Contractor’s responsibilities • Prepare and update the construction phase plan • Plan, monitor and manage their work • Provide an induction • Provide welfare facilities and secure the site • Co-operate and co-ordinate Workers’ responsibilities • Care for own health and safety and that of others • Co-operate with others • Report any concerns • Engage in consultation Principle contractor’s responsibilities • Prepare and update the construction phase plan • Plan, monitor and manage their work • Provide an induction • Provide welfare facilities and secure the site • Contractor co-operation and co-ordination • Consult workforce • Issue the health and safety file Designer’s Responsibilities • Eliminate or reduce control risks • Provide information • Issue relevant information for health and safety file • Design our risks in future construction Client responsibilities • Management arrangements and welfare • Appoint a principal designer and principle contractor • Ensure appointees have the knowledge, skills and experience • Provide information and notify the HSE (F10) • CDM 2015 doesn't require domestic clients to carry out client duties Principal Designers • Plan, monitor, manage and co-ordinate health and safety in pre-construction phase • Identify, eliminate or control risk • Ensure designer DCM performance • Manage pre-construction information • Ensure the principal contractors has all the information needed
• Prepare
and issue the health and safety file
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