Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

particular problem when the load is a container full 
of smaller items, such as small glass covers.
These are glass components which may shatter if 
dropped and leave shards of glass to be carefully 
cleared up.
The load is likely to be hot and could be sharp 
as well in places or when broken so that personal 
protective equipment, such as leather gloves and 
aprons plus eye protection, may be required.
Paper 2 – Question 2
Outline the precautions that may be needed when carry-
ing out repairs to the fl at roof of a building. 
(8)
Answer:
Roof work is hazardous and requires a specifi c risk 
assessment and method statement prior to the com-
mencement of work so that the required precautions 
may be identifi ed. The particular hazards are fragile roof-
ing materials, including those materials which deterior-
ate and become more brittle with age and exposure to 
sunlight, exposed edges, unsafe access equipment and 
falls.
There must be suitable means of access such as 
scaffolding, ladders and crawling boards. Suitable edge 
protection will be needed in the form of guard rails to 
prevent the fall of people or materials, and access must 
be restricted to the area below the work using visible 
barriers. Warning signs indicating that the roof is fragile, 
should be displayed at ground level. Protection should 
be provided in the form of covers where people work 
near to fragile materials and roof lights. The means of 
transporting materials to and from the roof may require 
netting under the roof and even weather protection.
Precautions will be required for other hazards associ-
ated with roof work, such as overhead services and 
obstructions, the use of equipment such as gas cylinders 
and bitumen boilers and manual handling.
Finally, only trained and competent persons must be 
allowed to work on roofs and they must wear footwear 
having a good grip. It is good practice to ensure that 
a person does not work alone on a roof.