Pitched Roof Tiling and Slating

Pitched roof tiling and slating involves working on sloped surfaces at height, handling heavy materials overhead and underfoot.
Falls from pitched roofs are a leading cause of construction fatalities in the UK, particularly on domestic and low-rise projects.
Roof edge protection must be installed before any roofing work begins to prevent falls from the eaves and verge edges.
Roof ladders or crawling boards spread the worker's weight and provide a stable platform on the pitched surface.
Tiles and slates are individually manageable but their cumulative lifting throughout a shift causes shoulder and back strain.
Batten gauges must be accurate — incorrect gauge prevents proper tile or slate overlap, causing water penetration and rework.
Fragile roof lights, old skylights, and deteriorated sections of roof covering create fall-through hazards on re-roofing projects.
Wind affects roof workers severely — tiles and slates catch the wind and gusts can destabilise a worker on a pitched surface.
Material storage on the roof must be limited and evenly distributed — overloading one area can exceed the structural capacity.
Hot bitumen and torch-on underlays used on some roofing systems create fire and burn hazards requiring hot works controls.

Fatal falls	Falls from pitched roofs kill more construction workers than almost any other activity — edge protection must be the first installation.
Fragile surfaces	Workers fall through roof lights and deteriorated coverings that look solid from above — every fragile area must be protected.
Gradient danger	The slope of a pitched roof means a slip anywhere on the surface can result in a slide to the edge and a fall to the ground.

Do

Don't

Install roof edge protection at eaves and verges before starting any roofing work.
Use roof ladders or crawling boards to spread your weight on the pitched surface.
Identify and protect all fragile roof lights and deteriorated areas before access.
Rotate tiling and slating tasks to reduce cumulative shoulder and back strain.
Check batten gauge accuracy before fixing to ensure correct tile or slate overlap.
Monitor wind speed and stop roof work when gusts make conditions unsafe.
Limit material storage on the roof to what is needed — distribute weight evenly.
Follow hot works procedures for any torch-on underlay or bitumen application.
Use a harness attached to a roof anchor where edge protection is not practicable.
Brief the team on the roof plan, edge protection, and fragile area locations daily.

DON'T access any pitched roof before edge protection is installed at eaves and verges.
DON'T walk directly on tiles without roof ladders or boards spreading your weight.
DON'T step near roof lights or deteriorated areas without confirmed protection.
DON'T carry tiles and slates all day without rotating tasks with the team.
DON'T fix battens at the wrong gauge — it causes water ingress and costly rework.
DON'T continue roof work in high winds — gusts push you towards unprotected edges.
DON'T overload the roof structure with excessive material storage in one area.
DON'T use torch-on materials without a hot works permit and fire prevention in place.
DON'T work on pitched roofs without fall protection — edge guards or harness systems.
DON'T start the shift without confirming the edge protection and fragile area locations.

See also: Falls From Height Awareness | Roof Work Risk Assessment

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