Working at height is a highly dangerous business and not for the faint-hearted. WorkSafe New Zealand acknowledges this by constantly reminding us of the dangers, and they provide endless resources to help us manage the risks. With all the guidelines, regulations, rules and health and safety practices associated with working at height, we can go about some of our more high-risk work secure in the knowledge that we’re managing the situation to the best of our ability.
This is particularly true of our roof wash service. We go a long way up when providing this service but it’s worth it. The difference a roof wash can make to the appearance of a home or business is quite phenomenal. Meanwhile, a cleaner roof is also one where the longevity of the structure is enhanced, meaning greater protection for the interior of your home, commercial or business premises.
While we’re up there doing a roof wash and giving you all the benefits, we are always careful to play it safe. We have to, as we are legally obligated to minimise any potential dangers. We are also well aware of the risks involved. So we find it alarming that so many Kiwis, who have that DIY spirit in their blood, clamber up onto their roofs and attempt to undertake their own roof wash. The problem is, they lack the specialised training that we receive for working at height. Their safety equipment is non-existent or totally unsuitable for the job at hand, and they show little regard for the dangers they face.
This is reflected in the number of people seriously injured or killed in New Zealand each year through falling from their roofs. Any time you get up there you literally take your life into your hands. Falls become more likely on roofing surfaces that are slippery with mould, moss and lichen; the very things we’re trained to remove from a roof in the first place!
We’re trained to work at height and we always bring equipment that will keep us safe while we’re working on your roof. Unless you have access to the same specialised gear as us (unlikely) and have received the same amount of training as we have (just as unlikely) our advice to you is to stay on the ground and let us do the job for you. Contact us and book us in because our roof wash service is your safest option.
