When Unprofessional "Roofers" Have Never Heard Of OSHA

When unprofessional "roofers" have never heard of OSHA.

Many roofs in our neighborhood got shredded by a tornado in April.  Mine included.

Of course I hired a professional I have known for over 20 years - licensed to the hilt, insured, professional in every way.   And voted the best roofer in Virginia.

The first thing I noticed on the morning of my roofing job was the harness and ropes in many places around my house.

Why is this important?  It means my professional roofer understands the 2017 OSHA safety rules regarding residential roofing.  The rule, called The Final Rule, requires harnesses and rope restraints (called Fall Protection) for everyone on a high roof, and a rope descending system when coming down.

Obeying these rules means the homeowner is protected and not responsible for falls.  How could the homeowner be responsible for falls?  If OSHA rules are not obeyed, do you think Workman's Comp Insurance, and liability insurance, would cover an accident?  So who would be on the hook instead?  You don't think a lawyer would come after the homeowner's insurance?

Many neighbors asked me who I used for my roof.  And many opted instead for the unprofessional storm chaser companies to do their roof.  Why?  Money I guess, hoping they can make money from the claim.  All I paid was my deductible, which is what I am supposed to pay.

I watched various roofs getting new shingles all over the neighborhood, and it was a parade of clown cars at the circus.  And the lousy work included lesser-quality materials, and then not installing things required by code, like ice shield, drip edges, kick-out flashing, etc. 

AND NO OSHA SAFETY RULES OBEYED!

It was unbelievable.

Consider the house just across the street from me.

The company sent 4 people to do this roof (my roofer sent 6 to do my house).  They had two trucks with no company name, and only one ladder which was too short!  Consider some photos.

Photo left - the ladder should extend 3' above the roof and be secured to the roof or gutter.  Any harness or fall protection ropes for him?  No ice shield was used, although many rolls of it were placed on top of the roof. 

Photo right - to get to the lower roof, for safety (!?) one "roofer" holds a step ladder perched on the truck bed while another "roofer" uses the gutter to get onto the roof. 

Photo left - this "roofer," no harness or rope restraint, uses the gutter for support as he measures to cut a shingle.

Photo right - on the other side he actually glued the shingle on with roof tar, no nails.  How could he have possibly nailed it into place anyway?  Later, from the same position, he glued the flashing into place using the same "support" techniques.

Photo left - later, shingle nailer (black shirt) noticed the shingles weren't parallel with the top of the roof.  So he called in a tape measure (white shirt), and boss (green shirt) to figure out a solution.

Photo right - they decided to split the difference for each course going up so they could fudge the result having the top course line up with the apex of the roof.  They ran chalk lines all the way up so each course would line up with the measured fudge job, and the parallel appearance would hold!

Photo left - after the fudge job measurements were complete and the chalk lines snapped, it was time to get rid of stuff so they could finish the job.  Here white shirt is throwing ice shield off the roof, the ice shield they never used.  The white rolls were the ice shield.  They were probably returned to the store later for cash, at the expense of my neighbor and/or insurance company.

Photo right - black shirt is throwing the unused rope for the rope restraint system.  It wasn't really needed - there were no harnesses or attachment clips anyway.
I could go on and on with the fun photos!

In this last photo black shirt is carrying down a box of nails.  I think they used staples for the roofing (which are not approved), so these nails were also probably returned to the store.  For cash...

Also, OSHA ladder rules require two hands on the ladder at all times, and a rope descending system to be used when coming off a high roof.  Notice the cheap ladder bending under the weight!!

DO YOU THINK THESE "ROOFERS" ARE LICENSED?
I would bet money they are not.

My recommendation:  check out your contractors before they begin work!  Make sure they are licensed and insured and professional!  My professional roofer gave me a written 12 year warranty on installation and against leaks!  My shingle manufacturer gave me a written 15 year warranty against wind damage!  It's not my business, but I wonder what guarantees or warranties my neighbors in the neighborhood got.