Essentials

Safety awareness and practices are as critical in shops as they are on rooftops—especially when it comes to forming, transporting and installing metal used for roof system installations.

In a sheet-metal shop, for example, tools and equipment, such as power shears, press brakes and mechanical presses, band and circular saws, lathes, and drilling and milling machines, are used to form and cut metal. Because a moving machine part can grab clothing and pull in and severely injure workers' limbs, safeguarding these types of machines and training workers about safety procedures are crucial.

Following the rules

According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) General Industry standard 29 CFR 1910.217, employers must provide and ensure the use of point-of-operation guards on machines that rotate, reciprocate, transverse, cut, punch, shear or bend. In addition, powered equipment never should be started unless all point-of-operation guards are in place. Guards prevent hands or fingers from reaching through, over, around or under them. If workers need to repair or clean equipment, they should shut off a machine's power before removing point-of-operation guards. Before reactivating equipment, workers should replace guards.

Tools and equipment never should be left unattended, especially while their parts still are moving or cocked in midcycle. Workers should not wear jewelry or any loose clothing while operating machinery—it is easy for watches, bracelets, necklaces, etc., to get caught in equipment.

If you have a sheet-metal operation, you must comply with OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.147, which requires using lockout and tagout devices on metal fabrication and forming equipment. A lockout prevents an equipment piece from operating; a tagout warns others there is a defect or problem and a machine should not be operated. Lockouts and tagouts only should be removed by the authorized person who set them in place. If the authorized worker is not available, the devices may be removed with a shop supervisor's permission.

Proper attire

Because sheet-metal shops involve risks of injuries from sparks, sharp objects, electrical shock and chemicals, workers are required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE). Depending on the task, a worker should wear protective gloves, goggles, wristlets and hand pads. Shop machinery can produce loud noise; when a worker is near loud equipment, he should protect his hearing with earplugs.

PPE also should include proper leggings that will protect workers' legs and feet from harmful materials, such as molten metal or welding sparks. Boots should have impact-resistant toes and metal insoles to protect against puncture wounds. And boots' soles should be heat-resistant.

Transportation

In metal shops where hoists and lifts are used to move heavier loads, only workers who are properly trained and authorized should operate lifting equipment. When hoisting sheet metal, workers should secure slings and straps at two points; straps should not get in the way of a vehicle's moving parts. It's important a load be balanced—if it's not, the load could tip and fall out of the lift or hoist. Taping a bundle's ends together also is a good idea to prevent single metal pieces from shifting.

On a roof

During metal roof system installations, cuts from sharp metal corners and edges are a potential hazard. Again, proper PPE, including heavy leather gloves, is essential. Because metal can get extremely hot in summer, workers should wear proper gloves to prevent burns.

In addition, PPE should include sunglasses on a sunny day. The glare from sunlight reflecting off a metal surface is intense and can damage eyes. Long-sleeved shirts will help workers protect themselves against cuts and sunburn.

Workers also should be careful when they handle large pieces of sheet metal on a windy day—a sudden, strong gust can billow sheet-metal pieces and cause a worker to lose his balance and fall off a roof's edge.

Potential hazards are part of a roofing crew's everyday challenges. And metal installations, like other roof system types, present unique safety concerns. With proper planning and awareness of potential risks, your crews can get the job done—from shop to rooftop—without anyone getting hurt.