According to recent data, construction jobsite falls are up over 50% from the last decade. The stats are even more sobering for roofers, who account for the highest number of fatal falls in the whole construction industry.

According to projections from the Better Business Bureau, the roofing industry is also positioned for growth in the next several years — expected to reach $58.1 billion in revenue by 2028 as a result of housing market outlooks. With an anticipated increase in roofing demand, roofers must go the extra mile to ensure their safety on the job. 

The dangers are prevalent for roofers. Fully understanding the risks faced on the job is a starting point for increasing safety.

Understanding the Dangers for Roofers

Research indicates that roofing is one of the most dangerous professions among U.S. construction workers. Industry leaders credit this to the dangerous nature of the job, lack of experience, and inadequate safety equipment. 

In the construction industry, slips, trips, and falls account for the vast majority of workplace accidents. One of the largest concerns with slips, trips, and falls is traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), with falls leading to nearly half of all TBIs hospitalizations in the United States. Roofers, in particular, experience the highest rate of fatal TBIs among construction workers. 

A better understanding of the causes of TBIs and what workers can do to reduce their risk is clearly imperative in the roofing industry. 

What Causes Traumatic Brain Injuries?

Accidents that lead to brain injury can have perilous outcomes, including severe injuries, time away from work, life-long afflictions, and even fatalities. One of the most common causes of TBIs is known as rotational motion. While rotational motion is not commonly referenced, decades of research have proven that the brain is more sensitive to rotational motion than other impacts.

When a falling object impacts someone’s head, or their head hits the ground, it typically occurs at an angle. For instance, tripping over equipment or falling off of a ladder are examples of angled impacts that expose the head to rotational motion. 

Despite the dangers accompanied by rotational motion, most traditional helmets are developed and tested to address linear impacts. Concussions caused by rotational motion can occur at lower energy levels than in linear motion cases. 

In other words, when rotational motion is a factor, even impacts that may seem to be light can lead to concussions. While this type of impact is dangerous, the brain is typically more sensitive to rotational than linear motion regarding TBIs. 

American Helmet Buyers Don’t Understand the Risks

A recent survey conducted by consumer survey company Nielsen and commissioned by Mips, a market leader in helmet-based safety, concluded that over 70% of American helmet buyers were unaware of rotational motion and its dangers. 

Helmet buyers who don’t understand the danger of rotational motion cannot make an educated decision about purchasing helmets. 

Increasing awareness of rotational motion amongst those in the roofing industry is an important starting point as leaders work to increase safety for roofers. The next step is advocating for the use of proper head protection.

Still Catching Up with the Science

Most helmets on the market are designed for linear accidents — those in which impact is made directly to the crown of the head. In real life, however, these accidents are significantly less common than angled impacts for roofers. 

As science has advanced to better understand TBIs, the sports and motor industries have shown promising developments in helmet standards that account for rotational motion. For the construction industry, though, very little has changed. Most head protection available today lacks updated design and technology that can account for angled impacts and rotational motion, and no construction standards are driving this imperative. 

Head Protection for Roofers: What Can Be Done?

As we wait for the construction industry to catch up with the latest science, roofers can take their safety into their own hands. 

Today, helmet technology has advanced to develop safety systems designed to help reduce rotational motion in the head. Whether or not roofers’ helmets are equipped with these safety systems is an important consideration for helping reduce the risk of workplace head injuries. 

Joe Brandel serves as Business Development Manager for North America Industrial Safety Market at Mips, a market leader in helmet-based safety. He has been in the construction and industrial safety business for over 20 years.