While conducting a safety inspection, one of our loss prevention engineers witnessed a hazardous situation unfold on the roof across the street.

A five-man roofing crew was re-roofing an old inn across the street. The team had already removed the old roof and prep work for the new concrete tile roof was being completed.

Soon the building materials supply truck arrived and began transferring materials up to the roof using a movable boom conveyor.

This is a relatively safe and highly efficient method of getting materials onto a roof. Some of the roofing crew assisted the supplier by placing stacks of tile at various points. When the unloading process was completed, the crew went back to work, cutting and installing the tile.

Next something very dangerous happened. As the boom operator removed the conveyor, it swung just above the heads of the unsuspecting crew who were bent over applying the tile. It was just a few feet below a power line as well.

Failure to communicate could have resulted in disaster

But in this situation it wouldn’t have taken much for an accident to occur. One of the roofers could have stood up suddenly, collided with the boom, and knocked him and others off the roof. The boom’s hydraulics could have failed and crushed one or more workers. The operator could have misjudged the path between the boom and the power lines and electrocuted the workers.

Fortunately, no one was hurt that day.  But the crew were put in harm’s way unnecessarily–and the danger could have been prevented.  Had there been clear communication between the boom operator and the crew, it would have enabled the workers on the roof to move away from the potentially dangerous area while the boom was moving.

How to avoid potential disaster in similar situations

  • Plan for deliveries and notify your workers.
  • Communicate the plan for unloading and storage of roofing materials.
  • Notify workers before performing dangerous maneuvers with heavy equipment and ensure workers have moved to a safe location.

All too often people assume those around them are aware of what they are doing. Clear communication is the easiest and surest way to keep workers out of danger and on the job.