DIY and working on roofs.

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BTR

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Topic # 136236 20-Nov-2013 08:02

I have heard rumours amongst the building industry that the Govt are looking at making it illegal for anyone to be on a roof without scaffolding or safety nets. This was don't in the building industry a couple of years ago.

Has anyone heard of this as it sounds absorb. It would mean if a child accidentally throws a frisbee on my roof I have to arrange for scaffolding to get it down otherwise I risk being fined??

Interested to know everyones thoughts on this.

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Reply # 937700 20-Nov-2013 08:50

I haven't read the proposal but there will be exceptions for working on your own property. There always are, just like you are allowed to change light fittings like for like without a ticket.

Health and safety rules apply to work places

wellygary

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Reply # 937701 20-Nov-2013 09:01

This will only apply to workplaces, not the actions of private people. No one is going to make it illegal for you to stick a ladder up to get things off your roof.

There are already a number of health and safety in the workplace provisions that apply to building sites, but do not apply to individuals who undertake the same task as DIY.

sbiddle

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Reply # 937707 20-Nov-2013 09:19

MBIE introduced a number of changes least year to ensure working on a roof is safer.

The Act requires that if there is a potential for a person at work to fall from any height,
reasonable and practicable steps must be taken to prevent harm from resulting.

This essentially means the use of scaffolding, safety nets or a properly installed fall arrest kit depending on the risk assessment.

MikeB4

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Reply # 937708 20-Nov-2013 09:22

2 people support this post

irrespective of law I would use fall protection, trust me wheelchairs are not fun.

Mike
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The views stated in my posts are my personal views and not that of any other organisation.

Using empathy takes no energy and can gain so much. Try it.

andrewNZ

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Reply # 937736 20-Nov-2013 09:55

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KiwiNZ: irrespective of law I would use fall protection, trust me wheelchairs are not fun.

You'd have to be mad to go up on a roof in a wheelchair...

Location: Dunedin

MikeB4

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Reply # 937738 20-Nov-2013 09:59

andrewNZ:
KiwiNZ: irrespective of law I would use fall protection, trust me wheelchairs are not fun.

You'd have to be mad to go up on a roof in a wheelchair...

haven't tried in mine...

Mike
Retired IT Manager.
The views stated in my posts are my personal views and not that of any other organisation.

Using empathy takes no energy and can gain so much. Try it.

BlueShift

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Reply # 937784 20-Nov-2013 10:39

Yeah, I'm currently getting quotes for scaffolding so I can paint the top floor of my house. I'd considered scrambling over the fairly steeply-pitched roof, but after someone at work fell off her roof while painting and turned both her ankles to paste, I've developed an interest in safety measures...

DarthKermit

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Reply # 938093 20-Nov-2013 19:15

I bloody nearly slipped off my shed roof last weekend. A three metre fall to the ground wouldn't have been a great idea so I think I'll look at using some kind of safety system next time.

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

Fred99

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Reply # 938117 20-Nov-2013 20:06

When I was a kid, we used to play on our garage roof, but the time we were about 10, we could safely jump off it onto the ground.
If the namby-pambies managed to be persuaded by vested interests of the roofing industry association that you're not allowed to go on to your own roof, I'll simply disobey that law.
NZ is going nuts - if the safety/building consent laws we have now had been in place in the 1850s, then we'd all be living in tents.

blackjack17

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Reply # 938212 20-Nov-2013 21:45

You didn't read the whole thread did you. If it was brought in it would be a workplace requirement. There are no rules regarding being an idiot on your own property

blackjack17

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Reply # 938213 20-Nov-2013 21:45

You didn't read the whole thread did you. If it was brought in it would be a workplace requirement. There are no rules regarding being an idiot on your own property

mattwnz

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Reply # 938235 20-Nov-2013 21:53

BlueShift: Yeah, I'm currently getting quotes for scaffolding so I can paint the top floor of my house. I'd considered scrambling over the fairly steeply-pitched roof, but after someone at work fell off her roof while painting and turned both her ankles to paste, I've developed an interest in safety measures...

Scaffolding is definitely worth the money.

mattwnz

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Reply # 938236 20-Nov-2013 21:53

There is something to be said for having a low pitched roof.

Fred99

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Reply # 938261 20-Nov-2013 22:51

blackjack17: You didn't read the whole thread did you. If it was brought in it would be a workplace requirement. There are no rules regarding being an idiot on your own property

You didn't read the thread title - did you?

blackjack17

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Reply # 938265 20-Nov-2013 23:16

Fred99:
blackjack17: You didn't read the whole thread did you. If it was brought in it would be a workplace requirement. There are no rules regarding being an idiot on your own property

You didn't read the thread title - did you?

I did and others and i pointed out to the op that the rule change wiuld not affect someone working on their own roof.

Unless you work at heights this won't affect you

www.dol.govt.nz/News/Media/2012/roofing-guidelines.asp

nobody is trying to take away any body's rights. They are just try to reduce the number of workplace accidents. Which is a good thing.

Workers can work safer, ACC premiums go down.

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