Common Injuries After Roof Accidents

It doesn’t take an expert to discern that roofing work can be dangerous. After all, you are working high above the ground on a precarious structure that contains plenty of potential for an accident. Beyond falling, roofers can also be hit with construction equipment and are even at risk of being electrocuted.

If you or a loved one works in the roofing industry — or frequently engages in roof repair tasks around the house — it may help to know some of the injuries that can occur after a roofing accident. This post lists some of the most common injuries so you can take the necessary precautions to protect yourself.

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Common Injuries Suffered by Roofers

Many of the injuries on this list are entirely preventable. By exercising a little caution and adhering to proper safety protocols, roofers could save themselves a lifetime of pain and anguish. However, despite everyone’s best intentions, some injuries are simply unavoidable.

Broken Bones

Broken bones are some of the most common roofing-related injuries. Most of the time, they are incurred after a fall. If the roofer lands on their feet, they have a high chance of breaking their ankles and legs. If they use their hands in an attempt to break the fall, they could wind up with a broken arm or compound fracture.

If the roofer does not land on their feet, they have an increased chance of suffering a pelvic fracture, damage to their hips, or worse. These injuries are particularly nasty due to the amount of time it takes to heal. Unfortunately, some of these injuries could have lifelong implications.

Punctures

Puncture wounds sustained in a roofing accident are commonly caused by wayward nails that stick out from the roof. These nails could have been left from a previous job, or they could have been nailed into place by the current roofer.

No matter how the nail got there, a puncture wound sustained on a roof can be shocking and carries the potential for further injury. For example, if a roofer steps on a nail and panics to the extent that they lose their balance, they could fall from the roof and experience broken bones or other injuries.

Electrocution Injuries

Often, the roof being worked on is in close proximity to power lines. In such cases, those working on it need to take extra precautions not to touch the power lines.

Electrocution during roofing usually occurs when a scaffold or metal ladder comes into contact with power lines while the roofer is attached to it. Injuries resulting from electrocution can be severe and even result in death.

Brain Injuries

Falling from a roof has the potential to knock your brain around inside your skull. This can result in lifelong debilitations and severe traumatic brain injury. These types of injuries can drastically impact an individual’s mental state and ability to receive and communicate information.

Back Injuries

Roofers really need to watch their backs. This is true in the event of a fall, which has a serious potential to damage the back, but it is also true when carrying heavy equipment. Even a mild back injury has the potential to limit an individual’s range of motion for several days, which could result in lost wages and emotional distress.