Working on a steep roof

A steep roof is any roof steeper than 4 in 12. That covers most houses we tear off and shingle. On that pitch, your boots are the only thing holding you, and loose granules, dew, frost, underlayment, or a tarp can take that away in a second. Once you start sliding, you cannot stop. The rule for steep roofs is simple: if the edge is 6 feet or more above the ground or the next level, you need guardrails with toeboards, a safety net, or a personal fall arrest system. On our jobs that usually means a harness, a rope grab, and a lifeline tied to a roof anchor.

The anchor goes in first, before anyone works the roof. Set it near the ridge, into solid framing, with the fasteners the maker calls for. Do not nail it into sheathing alone. Plan where the anchor sits so the lifeline runs straight down to where you work. If you work far off to one side, a fall swings you like a pendulum into a valley, a chimney, or off the rake edge. Move the anchor or add another one when you move across the roof. Keep the rope grab above your shoulders and slide it up as you climb so slack does not build up below you.

Watch the small things that kill. A lifeline that runs over a sharp metal drip edge can be cut in a fall. A rope left lying across the shingles is a trip line. A harness worn loose lets you slip out or hurts you badly when it catches. Check the harness, the rope, the rope grab, and the anchor every morning. Pull any piece that was in a fall. Toe boards and roof jacks help you stand and stage bundles, but on their own they are not fall protection. Tie off before you step past the ladder top, and stay tied off until you are back on it.