Maintaining and cleaning your gutters is a critical part of the exterior maintenance of your home. This is a job that you can do yourself provided you do it safely. Here are some safety tips you before starting the job.
Falls are the leading cause of deaths in and around the home. The National safety council, notes that over 6,000 people die from falls in and around the home each year and more than 30,000 people are injured each year by falls involving ladders. Most of these accidents occur because the victims violate the basic rules of ladder safety.
1. Make certain that you use a sturdy ladder. Always set the ladder on level ground. If standing the ladder in a flower bed, be sure all straw or mulch is moved out of the way to allow the ladder is set firmly on the ground.
2. While using an extension ladder that is leaned on the gutters, try cutting a small 2×4 board that you can sit inside the gutter. By doing this, you will provide a solid location that you can safely set the ladder against without running the risk of severely damaging the gutter.
3. While standing on a ladder, don’t try to lean out on either side of the ladder. While standing on the ladder keep your hips square to help keep your balance.
4. Never stand on the top two rungs of a ladder. This is a vulnerable part of the ladder and provides little leverage if you were to lose your balance.
5. When working from the roof, never lean out over the gutter. You may want to purchase a safety harness and secure it to a sturdy item such as a chimney.
6. Don’t attempt to work on a roof during wet, icy, or windy conditions.
7. When working on the roof or climbing a ladder it is a good idea to wear non-slip shoes like sneakers or work boots.
8. Always wear heavy duty work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal corners and screws sticking through metal surfaces.
9. Always wear protective eye wear or safety glasses to protect your eyes. Gutters will contain many small particles that could get in your eyes causing you eye damage or to lose your balance.
10. Always stay clear of electrical lines.
By following these safety tips when cleaning your gutters you’ll do it safely. Safety is the most important thing you can do when preparing to do work to your home.
Ladder Safety Tips
- If you feel tired or dizzy, or are prone to losing your balance, stay off the ladder.
- Do not use ladders in high winds or storms.
- Wear clean slip-resistant shoes. Shoes with leather soles are not appropriate for ladder use since they are not considered sufficiently slip resistant.
- Before using a ladder,inspect it to confirm it is in good working condition.
- Ladders with loose or missing parts must be rejected. Rickety ladders that sway or lean to the side must be rejected.
- The ladder you select must be the right size for the job.
- The Duty Rating of the ladder must be greater than the total weight of the climber,tools,supplies,and other objects placed upon the ladder. The length of the ladder must be sufficient so that the climber does not have to stand on the top rung or step.
- When the ladder is set-up for use, it must be placed on firm level ground and without any type of slippery condition present at either the base or top support points.
- Only one person at a time is permitted on a ladder unless the ladder is specifically designed for more than one climber (such as a Trestle Ladder).
- Ladders must not be placed in front of closed doors that can open toward the ladder. The door must be blocked open, locked, or guarded.
Commercial Building Inspections
Accessing the Roof during a Commercial Building Inspection is a necessity. Inspecting the roof for unusual wear, possible leaks and probable life expectancy is expected by potential buyers. All larger buildings also have the HVAC systems installed on roof tops. Many larger industrial buildings will have a permanently attached ladder which is often required under natural gas regulations. ( As per CSA B149.1-10, any rooftop that has a natural gas or propane powered appliance requires a permanent means of access if height from grade of roof elevation is greater than 13 ft. )
Thermal Imaging using an Infrared Camera is the lastest technology used by the Toronto Commercial Building Inspector to find hidden leaks or partial leaks which have not yet fully penetated the protective roof covering. Typically Thermal Imaging of roofs is done prior to sun rising and heating to roof to a degree that makes Thermal Imaging impossible.
Many multi-storey residential apartment buildings will have a interior roof access hatch installed. This access hatches will have a permanent ladder attached to wall to provide access. These access hatches are required to be secured, typically by affixing a lock to prevent unauthorized access.
Accessing flat roofs for inspections can be hazardous, especially in winter months. Many flat roofs will have some areas of ponding which turn into ice rinks in the winter. The Commercial Building Inspector has to be especially careful as there are no guards or devices to prevent falls. This is where caution and experience are valuable assets to have when inspecting roofs.
