Safer Ways to Remove Snow from Roofs

Every year, workers are killed or seriously injured while performing snow or ice removal from rooftops and structures such as decks. Based on the findings of OSHA investigations, falls cause the most worker fatalities and injuries during rooftop snow removal. Workers may fall off roof edges, through skylights, and from ladders and aerial lifts to the ground below, which is likely to be fatal. Workers may also be injured or killed by a roof collapse. There are safer ways to remove ice and snow off rooftops than to climb onto the roof, which is a high-risk task.