I was raised on the construction adage: “More guys fall off of shallow pitches than steep ones,” and it has certainly proven true in my 35 years of construction history.
Regardless of how many workers are trained in safe work practices and increased improvements in fall protection equipment, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports annually that fatal falls account for around 33 percent of construction fatalities in the United States. This figure has fluctuated much in the past decade. Tragically, fall fatalities are over 70 percent for the roofing trades. Steep- and low-slope metal roofs still hold a significant share of the residential and commercial roofing markets and, as such, bring a cadre of greater hazards to the metal roofer and sheet metal installer.
Correctly installed metals require only a minimum pitch to drain, yet most applications are deemed effective above 4:12 pitch. Although panel seaming and fasteners have improved, the basic materials and methods associated with metal roofing have not changed that much. Usually composite pitched roofs are meant to be walked on during installation, whereas metal usually requires an installation plan that minimizes the time spent on such a slippery and unreliable surface.