Hardhats on roofs? Yes, you DO need one, both legally and for safety

Last week, a roofing company owner and his employees told me that it was their understanding that, while working on roofs, there don’t have to wears hardhats.

“Listen,” they told me, “what’s going to drop on us up there?” Except maybe a donation from a passing seagull who’s eaten too much lunch.

Sounds like common sense but, unfortunatey, they’re wrong. Not needing a hardhat on a roof is just one of the myths that circulates around jobsites.

If you’re not up to date, and you’re working in Ontario, I recommend you visit the Ontario Ministry of Labour’s E-Laws site. Here you’ll find regulations and laws that clearly remove the myths I commonly hear.                                                                                           

Click on: Protective Clothing, Equipment and Devices .

Here it says:

22.  (1)  Every worker shall wear protective head wear at all times when on a project. O. Reg. 213/91, s. 22 (1).

(2)  Protective head wear shall be a safety hat that,

(a) Consists of a shell and suspension that is adequate to protect a person’s head against impact and against flying or falling small objects; and

(b) Has a shell which can withstand a dielectric strength test at 20,000 volts phase to ground. O. Reg. 213/91, s. 22 (2).

The magic words are “Every worker shall wear protective head wear at all times when on a project.” This includes bosses, sub contractors, trades and even Mike Homes.

Remember, house roofs are now more complicated than ever with many peeks and lower extensions. Wearing a hardhat makes sure everyone is protected at all times, even at  lower levels where you can be as exposed to flying objects as if you were on the ground.

CARAHS is a non profit association for home renovators and home services.

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