The Crucial Role of Rooftop Training in Maintaining Safety

Did you know that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that nearly one in five construction worker deaths involve roof work? Often due to falls from roof edges, openings, or fragile skylights. These sobering statistics underscore why anyone working at height, even for brief surveys, must be well-trained, competent, and instructed on the required precautions.

 The Building Safety Act’s Impact

Granted Royal Assent in April 2022, the Building Safety Act brings much-needed transparency to building standards. Building owners must now manage safety risks and take responsibility during design, construction, completion, and occupation.

With working at height posing risks like trips, falls, and slips, having a comprehensive safety plan and clear responsibility over risks during construction and installation is vital. Ensuring anyone involved undergoes thorough rooftop training is a significant step toward maximising safety when working at height.

Maintaining the Golden Thread

Introduced after the 2017 Grenfell Tower tragedy, the “Golden Thread” concept ensures anyone working on a building has the necessary information to understand it and the steps to keep the building and workers safe. Additionally, those responsible must show the completed building and any later work meets relevant regulations, with this information readily available.

The Golden Thread helps identify, manage, understand, and mitigate building safety risks throughout its lifecycle. Since falls are the biggest contributor to height-related accidents, the Golden Thread plays an essential role in improving rooftop worker safety by clearly defining steps and making critical information available.

How Effective Training Makes a Difference

Training, alongside comprehensive information sharing enables smoother, safer, and more efficient roof work.

At Sika, we provide first-class rooftop training covering safety topics before a hands-on session where participants identify workplace hazards and risks. Led by an instructor with over 40 years of height safety experience, our half-day course helps those conducting roofing surveys recognise hazards/risks of their role and understand implementing control measures to minimise risks.

Upon completion, attendees receive a Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) endorsed certificate. Our courses are approved by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), repeatedly meeting high standards for trainer competence and quality.

While industry-wide guidelines are vital, they must filter down to end-users from anyone controlling work at height. Effective, well-understood training makes the roof environment much safer. 

Affordable Training is Available

Some mistakenly believe training is too expensive, but the CITB offers funding opportunities to help contractors access up to £100,000 for training costs – everything from leadership development to recognised qualifications.

With falls remaining a considerable height risk, the built environment must improve professionals’ safety understanding. The Golden Thread principle and engaging training are crucial for achieving this.