Ladder safety on a commercial or flat roof might seem less obvious than working on steep-slope projects, but safety experts warn it is as critical, if not more, to watch your step on low-slope roofs.

RC went into the field with Tammy Clark, certified safety consultant and owner of Tammy K. Clark companies, to highlight common safety risks and solutions roofers encounter when working on commercial projects.

“Many times when we're up on these large commercial rooftops, these low-slope or these flat roofs, especially these large domes and arenas and things like that, you're going to have multiple elevations that the crews will be working from, and access in egress is something that OSHA looks at closely,” Clark said.

Ladder safety violations are the third most cited OSHA violation of fiscal year 2024, resulting in 2,573 citations. Fall protection topped the list with 6,307 citations. To avoid being one of those citations and prevent falls, slips and trips, Clark provides tips for safe ladder usage, such as placing abrasive materials under a ladder’s feet or securing the top of a ladder.

RC thanks Ace Roofing of Montana for inviting us to their job site.

Watch the full video here and check out our other safety-related content for more ways to stay safe on the job.