There are a lot of statistics out there to support that you should leave roofing to the experts. Being on a ladder or up on your home’s roof is extremely dangerous even for the experts trained in the field and performing this job every day. For someone that is a “weekend handyman”, it could be every more dangerous.
See what the experts are reporting about the large amount of injuries and deaths from ladder and roof accidents:
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
According the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, “every year 500,000 people are treated for ladder-related injuries and approximately 300 of these incidents prove to be fatal. 97% occur at home or on farms”.
CDC
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “more than 150,000 Americans require medical treatment as a result of roofing accidents every single year. This is a shocking number that highlights the importance of following proper safety procedures when on the worksite, however, roofing accidents can still happen, no matter how careful you are. The CDC also states that more than 97 percent of all roofing and ladder accidents happen at home, which suggests people are often under-qualified to install or repair their own roofs. Because of the nature of these types of accidents, many people sustain catastrophic, debilitating injuries, and even death. Some of the most common roofing injuries include multiple fractures, impalement, brain trauma, spinal cord injuries, and death”.
The Center for Construction Research and Training
The Center for Construction Research and Training reports that “roofers have the fifth-highest work-related death rate in construction, 29.9 deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, about twice the average for all construction of 15.2. About 50 roofers are killed on the job each year, most by falls. The information in government reports suggests that inadequate fall protection is responsible for most of the fatal falls. Falls from roof edges accounted for half of the fall deaths or three-fourths of the fall deaths from roofs. For roofers in residential construction, falls from roof edges accounted for 70% of work-related-fall deaths and 90% of roof fall deaths. Residential roofers had almost twice the percentage of fatal falls from ladders compared to all roofers, probably because ladders are used more often in residential work”.
PHP Systems / Design
“Of the top 10 riskiest jobs, roofing comes in at number six. Workers in the roofing industry are three times more likely to have a fatal injury than workers in other industries, and about 50 roofers are killed on the job each year. When you add in serious injuries, the result is sobering,” reports PHP Systems.
International Association of Certified Home Inspectors
The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors share statistics concerning ladder dangers:
- According to the World Health Organization, the United States leads the world in ladder deaths. Each year, there are more than 164,000 emergency room-treated injuries and 300 deaths in the U.S. that are caused by falls from ladders.
- Most ladder deaths are from falls of 10 feet or less.
- Falls from ladders are the leading cause of deaths on construction sites.
- Over the past decade, the number of people who have died from falls from ladders has tripled.
- Falls from ladders are the leading cause of ladder-related injuries, followed by using a ladder improperly, using a faulty or defective ladder, and simple carelessness.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
OSHA reported that “out of 4,674 worker fatalities in private industry in calendar year 2017, 971 or 20.7% were in construction — that is, one in five worker deaths last year were in construction. The leading causes of private sector worker deaths (excluding highway collisions) in the construction industry were falls, followed by struck by object, electrocution, and caught-in/between. These “Fatal Four” were responsible for more than half (59.9%) the construction worker deaths in 2017. Eliminating the Fatal Four would save 582 workers’ lives in America every year.
- Falls – 381 out of 971 total deaths in construction in CY 2017 (39.2%)
- Struck by Object – 80 (8.2%)
- Electrocutions – 71 (7.3%)
- Caught-in/between* – 50 (5.1%)
Let us help you with any of your roofing needs to keep YOU and your family safe!
No. 1 Home Roofing is proud to deliver quality service to its clientele in local communities, and therefore has years of experience in re-roofing and patching flat roofing systems.
No. 1 Home Roofing is a family owned and operated roofing company conveniently located on US Highway 19 in Palm Harbor, Florida. We are dedicated to providing top quality workmanship and materials to ensure that your new roof is done right. We specialize in shingle, tile, and flat roof installation, repairs, and maintenance. Contact us for an appointment and/or estimate at 727-781-7663.