ROOFING


DIZZY HEIGHTS A


Working at height inevitably brings with it a certain amount of risk, but there are tools and solutions out there that merchabnts can offer their customers to improve safety, as Hyde’s sales and marketing director, John Dabb tells BMJ.


ccording to the Health and Safety Executive working at height is one of the biggest causes of fatalities and major injuries, with common cases including falls from ladders and through fragile surfaces.


There are some common sense measures that roofers can take to help keep themselves safe when carrying out roofing work, ensuring that their equipment is suitable, stable and strong enough and providing protection from falling objects, for example. Merchants too, have a sense of duty to offer products and solutions that can aid an installer’s safety while enabling them to work efficiently and professionally. There is risk from overloading ladders, overreaching and resting ladders against weak surfaces. It also stands to reason that anyone that is going to work on a roof needs appropriate PPE, yet ensuring safety often goes further this and the tools an installer uses can also help.


Levelling up


Spirit levels are commonly used by roofers, yet can be tricky to use when two hands are needed to gauge an accurate reading. Not only does the spirit level need to be as simple as possible to use, therefore, but it also needs to be extremely robust, so that if dropped from a height, it survives the fall. Spirit levels with shock absorbers are the best option here, while those with a long measuring surface and an ergonomically designed hand rail for ease of gripping will also suit roofers well.


From extendable levels to ensure accuracy when aligning higher and longer constructions, through to levels that offer extra strength when marking out longer lengths, there is a spirit level available to suit the demands of just about any situation.


Going the distance Laser distance measures are another example of how advancements in technology are aiding roofers and other tradesmen who regularly work at height. These offer a far higher level of accuracy than a tape measure and the naked eye alone, and can also save a great deal of time while always providing an accurate result.


Simple to use, even when working at height, and taking up minimal space in the


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tool bag, laser distance measures offer rapid results and a very high level of accuracy, with some models being independently tested to ISO16331-1, ensuring that they really are as good as they claim to be.


Timely fashion


With time so often of the essence on building sites, it is crucial that safety is never compromised for the sake of speed, yet being able to work as efficiently as possible is important to installers, working from height or not.


Often, installers will need to cut large lengths of material, such as roofing boards, and the time consuming part of the job can be setting up the relevant equipment. Workhorses can be cumbersome and tricky to assemble and often simply not large enough to take the weight or the length of the material being cut. This is where a workhorse that has been designed to work flexibly can really save time and effort. Merchants should point out the load bearing capabilities and where possible, demonstrate the ease of assembly to really work their way towards a successful sale.


Quality not quantity This is where merchants have a golden opportunity to trade customers up to quality branded tools too, as investing that little bit more makes sense in terms of a tool’s longevity.


Tools should be manufactured and designed to last, but sadly not all manufacturers take this long-term approach. Spirit levels are a good case in point. With cheaper models, the vial is often held in by glue, making it prone to moving or even falling out completely when it is dropped, especially from height.


Cheaper tools are also less likely to be ergonomically designed and therefore uncomfortable to use, particularly over long periods of time. Installers paying just a few pounds more can cut down on the amount of blisters on their hands and suffer from less cramping as they will be able to get a comfortable grip.


Brushing up on your knowledge of such products, how they work and the advantages they offer to those who commonly work at height will go a long way towards securing the merchant’s next sale. BMJ


The Bora Speedhorse takes just 1.6 seconds to set up, saving precious time so you can work faster and complete jobs more efficiently. Designed for flexibility in a wide range of environments the Bora Speedhorse is built to withstand the heaviest of projects, able to bear weight up to 680kg (1500lb). The Bora Speedhorse offers a whole host of beneficial features once in use too, including a longer beam for a wider support area and leg supports that can be flipped out to take the weight of boards, doors plywood and other sheet material.


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net October 2019


More than just an angle finder, the Stabila Tech 700 DA is three tools in one, offering quick flexible and measuring on all types of work, from carpentry and joinery to metal work, tiling and drywall building. This one quality tool is more than just a digital angle finder, it is also a bevel gauge and spirit level, making it an essential piece of kit for any tradesman’s tool box.


Dust proof and water resistant, the Stabila TECH196 Digital is the rugged and practical solution for anyone that needs to set angles precisely and quickly. The electronic measuring technolog y and precision vials makes work faster and more efficient, while the two illuminated digital displays can be read from both the side and the top.


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