Every building needs a roof, which makes the roofing industry quite busy. Whether it’s repairing an old roof or putting on a brand new one, roofing contractors don’t lack work.
However, the roofing industry is an incredibly dangerous one, and injuries are common when no safety precautions are taken. Luckily, roofing contractors insurance coverage covers roofers’ injuries and helps them recover from their losses. Here are some of the common injuries a roofing contractor can suffer from.
1. Puncture Wounds
Contractors use roofing nails to attach shingles to a roof. While you can use a hammer to drive in the nails, most roofers use nail guns these days. However, as much as it has become a staple in the industry, it also has some hidden dangers. There is always a risk of either puncturing yourself or stepping on a nail.
2. Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries usually occur when falling objects hit the contractor’s head, when a roofer slips and falls off a roof, or when an accident occurs involving heavy machinery. While some people are able to recover fully, others might suffer lifelong symptoms like memory loss and migraines.
3. Repetitive Motion Injuries
When roofers make the same movements and motions over and over again, they risk damaging their joints. Repetitive motion injuries are usually diagnosed in the knees, shoulders, and elbows. One of the most common is phalangeal tendonitis, which happens when bones in the fingers get inflamed because of overuse.
4. Weather-Related Injuries
Working in extreme weather conditions comes with severe risks, like severe burns, heat stroke, and dehydration. Workers should know how to protect themselves when working in extreme weather conditions.
5. Electrocution
Although roofing work doesn’t usually involve a lot of electricity, there are times you’ll need it to run certain power tools. One of the risks here is working around power that’s believed to have been switched off.
6. Burns
Roofing contractors are often at risk of suffering contact burns and flash burns. Contact burns are common in the hot seasons when contractors need to work without their protective gloves for better ventilation. Flash burns, on the other hand, occur when roofers work too close to the tar. Burns can also occur via electrocution.
7. Amputation
When handling power tools at extreme heights, it is easy for your hands and fingers to get caught up in moving parts or slip into the sharp blades. This can result in amputation and change the roofer’s life completely.
8. Lacerations
Lacerations might not seem like such a big deal when they first occur, but if you get cut deep enough, the underlying nerves, muscles, and tendons can get damaged permanently. In addition, secondary infections from lacerations can even lead to a roofer getting hospitalized.
Takeaway
The best way to avoid suffering any of the injuries listed above is by taking all the necessary safety precautions before you start your roofing work. Use slip-resistant boots, wear a hard hat, and inspect the roof carefully before you climb onto it. Hopefully, you now know the injuries you need to be aware of as a roofer.
