Summer can be one of the busiest seasons for roofing contractors, but it can also be one of the most dangerous. Understanding how to protect your workers during the summer requires more than placing a cooler near the truck. Roofing crews face direct sunlight, physically demanding work, hot materials, reflective surfaces, fall hazards, and limited access to shade.
A safe summer plan protects employees before symptoms appear. It also helps roofing businesses reduce injuries, avoid project disruptions, support workplace safety compliance, and demonstrate that crew health is more important than maintaining an unrealistic production schedule.
Summer Roofing Safety Essentials
- Review the weather, heat index, roof conditions, and workload before each shift.
- Start physically demanding work earlier when conditions allow.
- Keep extra water close to the active work area, not only inside vehicles.
- Provide accessible shade or another effective cooling area.
- Schedule paid cool-down breaks and allow additional breaks whenever needed.
- Train employees to recognize heat exhaustion, heat stroke, sunburn, and dehydration.
- Stop work and call 911 when a worker becomes confused, collapses, has slurred speech, or shows other signs of heat stroke.
Why Summer Heat Is More Dangerous on a Roof
A roofing crew is not experiencing the same conditions shown by a standard air-temperature reading.
Roofing materials can absorb and radiate significant heat. Dark shingles, modified bitumen, metal components, tools, and surrounding surfaces may become much hotter than the outdoor air. Workers are also generating internal body heat while lifting materials, tearing off roofing, climbing ladders, carrying equipment, and working in protective clothing.
OSHA identifies sunlight, humidity, physical activity, air movement, clothing, and heat-absorbing roofs as factors that contribute to occupational heat exposure. This means contractors should evaluate the heat index, not just the temperature shown in a weather forecast. An on-site wet bulb globe temperature meter can provide a more complete measurement by considering temperature, humidity, sunlight, and air movement. ects concentration, coordination, judgment, and reaction time. On the ground, a brief loss of balance may cause a minor incident. On a sloped roof or ladder, the same mistake can result in a serious fall.
Heat Can Change the Roofing Surface
High temperatures affect more than the crew.
Certain roofing materials may soften, become easier to damage, or develop surface conditions that require additional care. Hot tools and metal components can also cause burns. Contractors should consider material limitations when planning summer work and avoid unnecessary foot traffic on heat-sensitive roofing systems during the hottest part of the day.
Sun Exposure Creates a Separate Health Risk
Heat illness and sun damage are related, but they are not the same hazard.
Roofing laborers may spend several hours under direct ultraviolet radiation with little natural shade. Repeated exposure can cause sunburn, eye damage, premature skin aging, and an increased long-term risk of skin cancer.
Encourage employees to apply broad-spectrum sunscreen to exposed skin and reapply it according to the product directions, especially after heavy sweating. Workers should also wear sunglasses that provide UV protection. Where the task, fall protection system, and site conditions allow, wear wide-brimmed hats or use hard-hat-compatible sun brims and neck shades.
Clothing should remain appropriate for the work. Lightweight, breathable, long-sleeved clothing can provide sun protection, but it must not create snagging hazards or interfere with required personal protective equipment.
Build Heat Safety Into the Daily Roofing Plan
Effective summer safety begins before anyone climbs the ladder.
A supervisor should review the expected conditions, crew experience, roofing system, physical workload, shade location, water supply, emergency access, and communication plan. Conditions should then be checked throughout the shift because afternoon temperatures can be very different from early-morning conditions.
Adjust the Schedule Before Conditions Become Dangerous
When practical, begin demanding tasks earlier in the day. Complete tear-off, material loading, and other high-exertion activities before the strongest afternoon heat.
Scheduling options may include:
- Starting earlier with the property owner’s approval
- Moving demanding work to the cooler part of the shift
- Rotating workers between high-exertion and lower-exertion duties
- Using shorter work periods with more frequent recovery breaks
- Rescheduling non-emergency work during severe heat events
Starting early does not eliminate the risk. Humidity, wildfire smoke, heavy protective equipment, and accumulated fatigue can still make morning conditions unsafe.
Production goals should never pressure workers to ignore symptoms or skip necessary breaks.
Provide Water Where Employees Can Reach It
Water is only useful when workers can access it easily.
Keep extra water near the crew’s active work area whenever safely possible. A cooler located far from the access point may discourage regular drinking, particularly when employees must repeatedly climb down from a roof.
Supervisors should encourage your staff to drink water regularly rather than waiting until they feel extremely thirsty. OSHA advises employers to promote adequate fluid intake, particularly for workers who are new to hot conditions. anding shifts involving heavy sweating, employers may also provide appropriate electrolyte beverages. However, these should not completely replace drinking water.
Workers should avoid relying on excessive energy drinks or highly caffeinated beverages for hydration.
Make Shade and Cooling Areas Practical
Shade must be usable and reasonably accessible.
A pop-up canopy, shaded trailer, cooled building, or air-conditioned vehicle may provide relief, depending on the jobsite. The cooling area should be large enough for workers taking breaks and located away from additional hazards.
Do not treat sitting inside their vehicles as the only heat plan unless those vehicles provide safe and effective cooling. A parked vehicle without air conditioning can become dangerously hot.
Washington’s outdoor heat exposure requirements call for adequate shade or another effective cooling method. Workers must also be allowed paid preventative cool-down breaks when they feel the need to prevent overheating. At 90°F or above, Washington requires additional paid cool-down rest periods of at least 10 minutes every two hours, with longer and more frequent breaks as temperatures reach 100°F. w and Returning Workers Through Acclimatization
A physically fit roofer can still develop heat illness when returning after time away or moving suddenly into hotter conditions.
Acclimatization is the body’s gradual adjustment to working in heat. New employees, temporary workers, people returning from vacation or illness, and crews experiencing the first major heat wave of the year require closer observation.
During the adjustment period:
- Reduce the duration or intensity of heat exposure.
- Assign shorter shifts or additional breaks.
- Avoid giving the most demanding tasks to unacclimatized employees.
- Use a buddy system.
- Check workers frequently for unusual behavior or symptoms.
- Encourage them to report concerns immediately.
Washington requires employers to closely observe workers who are not acclimatized, including new employees, returning employees, and workers affected by a heat wave. to it” should never mean forcing someone to work through dizziness, nausea, weakness, or confusion.
Recognize Heat Illness Before It Becomes an Emergency
Every supervisor and worker should understand the difference between early warning signs and a life-threatening emergency.
| Condition | Possible Warning Signs | Immediate Response |
|---|---|---|
| Dehydration or heat cramps | Thirst, muscle cramps, headache, fatigue | Stop activity, move to a cooler area, drink water, and monitor |
| Heat exhaustion | Heavy sweating, weakness, nausea, dizziness, headache, pale or clammy skin | Remove from heat, cool the worker, provide water if alert, and seek medical guidance |
| Heat stroke | Confusion, collapse, seizure, loss of consciousness, slurred speech, abnormal behavior | Call 911 immediately and begin rapid cooling |
Heat stroke is a medical emergency. A worker experiencing confusion, disorientation, unconsciousness, or slurred speech requires immediate cooling and emergency medical assistance. Do not leave the person alone or tell them to drive home. Roofing-Specific Emergency Plan
The jobsite emergency plan should explain:
- Who contacts emergency services
- Who provides first aid
- How workers will communicate from the roof
- The exact jobsite address
- How emergency responders will access the property
- How an affected worker will be lowered or removed safely
- Where cooling supplies and the first aid kit are located
- Who contacts the worker’s emergency contact
Keep the address and emergency instructions visible. A crew member experiencing heat illness may not be able to explain where the site is located.
Workers and supervisors must also have a reliable way to communicate. Verbal instructions may not always be enough around machinery, traffic, or language barriers. Establish simple hand signals and confirm that everyone understands them before work begins.
Do Not Overlook Falls, Burns, and Equipment Hazards
Summer work safety should not focus so heavily on hydration that other roofing hazards are forgotten.
Sweat can affect grip. Sunscreen can make hands slippery if it is not properly applied or absorbed. Fatigue can lead to missed tie-off points, dropped tools, unsafe ladder use, and incorrect material handling.
Continue enforcing:
- Fall protection requirements
- Ladder inspections and safe placement
- Appropriate gloves and footwear
- Guarding around openings
- Tool and equipment inspections
- Safe material-loading practices
- Electrical-line clearances
- Jobsite housekeeping
Never remove protective equipment simply because the weather is hot. Instead, account for the additional heat burden when planning the workload and rest schedule.
Make Summer Safety Part of Business Risk Management
A strong heat plan is not only a compliance document. It is an operational system.
Contractors should include outdoor heat procedures in their Accident Prevention Program, train supervisors and employees annually, document training, and review the plan when jobsite conditions change. Washington’s current rules apply throughout the year whenever relevant temperature action levels are reached. esses should also review their workers’ compensation procedures, insurance coverage, subcontractor requirements, and injury-reporting process. Insurance does not replace prevention, but accurate documentation and clear procedures can reduce confusion after an incident.
A safer workplace can also produce broader business benefits. Employees are more likely to report hazards, follow procedures, and remain with a company when management demonstrates genuine care for their health.
How RCAW Supports Safer Roofing Businesses
Established in 1965, the Roofing Contractors Association of Washington brings roofing professionals together through advocacy, continuing education, professional collaboration, safety resources, and consumer awareness. RCAW helps contractors stay informed about changing requirements and practical solutions affecting Washington’s roofing industry.
Contact Roofing Contractors Association of Washington at (253) 561-RCAW (7229), Director@RCAW.com, or 3815 100th St SW #1B, Lakewood, WA 98499. Contact us to strengthen your safety program and connect with Washington roofing professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should roofing workers drink water in hot weather?
Workers should drink small amounts regularly instead of waiting until they become thirsty. The appropriate frequency depends on heat, humidity, workload, clothing, and the worker’s condition.
Water should remain cool, clean, free to employees, and located close enough to encourage regular use.
What temperature is too hot for roofing work?
There is no single temperature that makes every roofing task unsafe. Contractors must consider temperature, humidity, direct sun, roof-surface heat, air movement, workload, clothing, and worker acclimatization.
Washington imposes specific protections at applicable action levels, including required additional paid breaks beginning at 90°F.
Can a roofing employee take an extra break because of the heat?
Yes. Washington workers must be allowed paid preventative cool-down rest when they feel the need to protect themselves from overheating.
Supervisors should never punish or discourage employees for reporting legitimate heat symptoms or requesting necessary recovery time.
What should a supervisor do when a worker shows signs of heat exhaustion?
Stop the worker’s activity, move them to shade or a cooled location, begin cooling, provide water if they are alert and able to drink, and monitor them closely.
Seek medical help when symptoms are severe, worsen, or do not improve promptly.
Should roofers wear long sleeves during summer?
Breathable long sleeves can reduce direct sun exposure, but clothing must remain appropriate for the task and should not interfere with fall protection or other equipment.
Contractors should evaluate fabric, fit, workload, temperature, and required PPE before setting a clothing policy.
Does sunscreen replace protective clothing?
No. Sunscreen is one part of a complete sun-safety plan.
Workers should combine broad-spectrum sunscreen with appropriate clothing, UV-protective sunglasses, compatible head or neck protection, accessible shade, and scheduling that reduces unnecessary exposure during peak sunlight.
Protect the Crew Before the Heat Takes Control
The best time to prevent heat illness is before a worker becomes dizzy, confused, or physically unable to climb down safely.
Review your outdoor heat program, train every crew member, inspect each jobsite, and give supervisors the authority to slow or stop work when conditions become unsafe. Contact RCAW today to access industry support and help build a safer, stronger roofing business in Washington.
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