ASSE Warns Against Shoveling Snow From Roofs

Jan. 8, 2001
Leave the job of clearing excessive snow and ice off of roofs to\r\ntrained professionals, says the American Society of Safety Engineers\r\n(ASSE).

Leave the job of clearing excessive snow and ice off of roofs to trained professionals, said the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) President Samuel Gualardo.

Shoveling snow off roofs is hazardous because it easily possible to slip off of a roof or ladder.

"We strongly discourage anyone without the proper and necessary fall protection equipment to clear snow off of roofs," said Gualardo. "The average home or business owner does not have the proper equipment or training.

"However, if person is absolutely bent on doing something about ice accumulation," said Keith Vidal, ASSE Standards Development Committee chair. "appropriate measures must be taken, such as never stepping onto a sloped roof, or in some cases an icy flat roof, unless the person uses the appropriate fall protection equipment, which includes a harness and lanyard."

According to ASSE, when using a ladder, make sure it is set at the correct angle with the bottom feet of the ladder approximately one fourth of the distance from the foot of the ladder straight up to where it is supported by a wall or roof edge.

The bottom of the ladder must be secured in position to avoid slipping away from the wall or building and the top of the ladder must be tied off so that the ladder cannot fall away, fall sideways or slip away from its support, Vidal noted.

When climbing onto a roof using a ladder, make sure that the ladder extends approximately 3 feet over the supporting edge, not more or less, said Vida.

He also said it is extremely important to note that even when a second person stabilizes the ladder at the bottom all of the above safety measures should be used.

Of additional concern is that none of the above measures consider the actual load strength of the roof, which must also be considered on all structures, noted Vidal.

"Only a qualified engineer should make this decision, as the structural load capacity of many roofs is being approached with the amounts of snow and ice that are one them," said Vidal.

Vidal strongly recommended against spreading ice-melting chemicals on a roof because it could cause damage to the roof and drainage system and is ineffective as a measure to reduce the amount of snow and ice on a roof.

"The bottom line is: people are taking a serious risk when undertaking roof clearing activities under wet, slippery and cold conditions," said Vidal. "A fall from a roof can change a persons life forever."

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

Sponsored Recommendations

Avetta Named a Leader in The Verdantix Green Quadrant: Supply Chain Sustainability Software 2024

Nov. 26, 2024
Avetta was named a leader by Verdantix in a 2024 sustainability software report for our ability to help clients and suppliers build sustainable supply chains.

Avetta is a Leader in Supply Chain Sustainability Software

Nov. 26, 2024
Verdantix has named Avetta a leader in its 2024 Green Quadrant for Supply Chain Sustainability Software. Download the report for independent insights into market trends and top...

The Power of Benchmarking in Procurement: Driving Success and Strategic Planning

Nov. 26, 2024
Explore the strategic impact of benchmarking in procurement to drive success and plan effectively.

The Five Eras of Safety Maturity

Nov. 26, 2024
Discover the 5 Eras of Safety Maturity, from reactive measures to data-driven assurance, and how organizations can evolve toward proactive safety cultures.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!