1. (NU) - Is it time for home-
owners to start celebrating Hug-
A-Roofer Day?
The Bureau of Labor Statis-
tics just disclosed the most dan-
gerous jobs inAmerica. Not only
did roofers come in at No. 6, but
take a look at some of the occu-
pations that didn’t even make the
top 10:
• Police officers
• Firefighters
• Taxi drivers
• Security guards
“Some of the results may sur-
prise you,” was how Bloomberg
Business understatedly put it.
We’ll reveal in a second who
topped the list with more than
three and a half times the 36.26
fatalities, per 100,000 full-time
employees, that earned roofers
their high ranking. But first,
here’s what those deaths should
tell almost all amateurs think-
ing of tackling a job as big as
installing a roof themselves:
Don’t do it.
For those who do insist on go-
ing the DIY route, at least be sure
to follow these safety tips:
• Minimize your risk of slip-
ping.An average of six roofers die
each month in the U.S. from falls,
according to Professional Roofing
magazine. So, never work on a wet
roof, wear soft-soled boots for the
best traction, and use safety equip-
ment like a harness when work-
ing on a steeply pitched roof. And
if you do fall, pray that you re-
membered to don a helmet to pro-
tect your head.
• The 36-inch rule. Some of
those fatal falls resulted from
having to lug heavy material up
a ladder. Yours should extend 36
inches above the landing or roof
eave to make transitioning to and
from the roof more secure. And
this warning from the Occupa-
tional Safety and Health Admin-
istration: “Do not stand on the
three top rungs.”
• Avoid electrical hazards.
Roofers also suffer fatal burns
and electrocution despite having
it ingrained in them that electric-
ity can leap, or “arc,” from a wire
to a ladder several feet away.
Ergo, for starters, make sure your
ladder is made of non-conductive
wood or fiberglass.
• Six words to live by when
it comes to utility knives. Those
would be: Always cut away from
your body.
Having second thoughts?
Unless you’re Warren Buffett
(who still lives in the same mod-
est, five-bedroom house in
Dundee, Omaha, he bought for
$31,500 in 1958), odds are your
home is your biggest asset. So,
GAF (gaf.com), North Ameri-
ca’s largest roofing manufactur-
er, has made it easy for you to
find the most reputable, depend-
able and adequately insured pro-
fessionals in your area by search-
ing its website’s GAF Master
Elite Contractor database.
Oh, as for the most dangerous
job in America? Fisherman, with
131.52 fatalities per 100,000
full-time employees.
Homeowners: Think Twice
BeforeAttempting This
HOME
NewsUSA
When it comes to roofing, it’s
better to hire a professional.
NewsUSA