What Is The Best Way To Access A Roof? (Ladders vs Scaffolding)

Roof access is required for many projects for many different reasons. Whether you need to access your own roof at home, or you work in the construction industry and need to access a roof in order to carry out important maintenance work, safe access should be your priority.

In today’s post we’ll be comparing ladders and scaffolding as a means of roof access to determine which is the best way to access a roof and why. It’s important to remember that sometimes the safest roof access is not accessing the roof at all. If you don’t have experience in the roofing industry, for example, then perhaps it would be a better option to hire a professional to come and complete any work in order to protect yourself and ensure the job gets done right, too.

If you’re a professional (e.g. construction workers or roof repair experts) then you could benefit from learning about the different advantages to both scaffold towers and ladders as a means of accessing a roof in the safest way possible. Before any work is carried out, regardless of our advice today, a detailed risk assessment should be carried out and the safety requirements of the job considered to ensure roof access is as safe as possible.

Once you’ve identified the risks you’ll be able to then determine whether a ladder, scaffolding, or another way entirely offers the safest access for the task at hand.

Are Ladders The Best Way To Access Roofs?

There are ladder options out there that are specifically designed for roof access but general practice is that ladders when accessing a roof would only be used for a short duration and low risk work. Some ladders designed for roof access could be safe, but only where appropriate.

In a report by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), it stated that a third of all reported falls from height involve ladders and stepladders. This is mainly due to misuse of ladders or an inappropriate selection ladder. If you’re planning to use a ladder to access your roof, you need to ensure it is fit for purpose and appropriate for the task at hand.

If the work being carried out on the roof is higher risk or going to take longer due to the complexity of the job, then a ladder probably is not the right choice.

What tasks can a ladder be used for safely?

It would be a good choice if you were replacing a few tiles or making minor adjustments or repairs to a television aerial that is quick and easy to complete. For this, you would need a properly secured ladder to access the roof.

Any quick task that doesn’t require multiple workers is appropriate for ladder use. But you also have to be realistic about the height of the roof. If you’re on a commercial premises, then ladders are rarely the safest way to access the roof. Here, fall arrest systems would need to be used too, preventing falls. The right equipment here might even involve the use of a cherry picker rather than ladders or scaffolding – especially for larger projects.

It may seem more cost effective to use ladders instead of other options, but for larger scale jobs, it’s considerably more dangerous and ultimately not worth the risk.

Why are ladders sometimes considered unsafe?

If all you’re using the ladder for is roof access, then surely it can’t be too unsafe? Well, whilst it provides quick access, one of the key differences between ladders and scaffold towers is the limited reach they provide and the difficulty they present in bringing tools and equipment with you to complete the task at hand in the first place.

Scaffolding offers a more robust option where larger tasks are being carried out that requires more equipment to complete.

Are Scaffold Towers The Best Option For Roof Access?

As with ladders, mobile scaffold towers that are smaller and allow for easy access to a roof would do for short duration jobs with less work involved. However, for roofs that require extensive work, it would not be very sufficient to use these towers and you would be much better off investing in normal scaffolding. It’s easy to use, will save you money and time in the long run, and will be safer with a secure platform and rails to protect you.

What’s the difference between scaffold towers and scaffolding?

A scaffold tower is a smaller, mobile option that you can construct yourself with ease. If you purchase one of our scaffold towers, you’ll also benefit from colour coded brackets and parts, making clear how to assemble the tower in a fast and safe way. Complete with toe boards and guardrails, they protect people working at height with ease.

However, they’re much smaller than traditional scaffolding. If you’re carrying out a large project, they simply won’t suffice, especially if you need multiple workers. Our mobile scaffolding towers only allow for 150kg of weight, which is great for a single person with tools, but not ideal for more than one worker at a time.

Are Scaffolding, Scaffold Towers, Or Ladders Best For Roof Access?

It depends solely on the tasks being carried out. There are several advantages to each option, but here’s a quick breakdown of where each might be best:

• Scaffolding: Larger scale tasks requiring more than one worker
• Scaffold towers: Smaller tasks requiring one worker and more advanced tools/equipment
• Ladders: Smaller tasks requiring one worker with simple equipment

The best way to make an informed decision is to conduct a thorough risk assessment of the work being carried out to determine which is best.

If none of these options are right for the job at hand, there are other roof access options that could be more suitable. Some examples include fixed internal or external staircases, mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPS), and roof access hatches. Again, carrying out a risk assessment is going to be the best way to tell what is right for each roof and job.

For more information about our roof ladders and scaffold towers explore our website or get in touch with one of our team who can answer any questions you may have.