Safety Tips for Rooftop Christmas Decorations

Much can be said about how to safely decorate the rooftop of ones home for Christmas, but I want to focus on ladder safety. I also want to spend some time talking about the general precautions that should be taken while moving around on a roof.

First, select the right ladder for the job. A good investment for anyone working on the exterior of ones home is a fiberglass extension ladder. A 16-foot Werner type 1 fiberglass ladder can be purchased for around $193 at most home stores.

Second, observe the 1 in 4 rule when setting your ladder up. The 1 in 4 rule states that for every four feet of vertical distance, the bottom of the ladder should be one foot from the side of the building. If the ladder leans against the edge of the roof and the roof's edge are ten feet from the ground, the bottom of the ladder should be at least 30-inches away from the roof's eaves.

Third, the top of the ladder should extend a minimum of 3-feet above the roofline. Doing this assures you that you will not stand on the top three rungs of the ladder. With the ladder extended 3-feet above the roofline also allows you grasp the ladder while stepping on or off the roof.

Fourth, do not place your ladder near any electrical wires. There were 440 accidental electrocutions reported in the United States in 1999, of the 440, 13 were related to ladder use. Almost 3 percent of the electrocutions were ladder related. You should never use a metal ladder near live wires. A fiberglass ladder will insulate you from the ground but it is still possible to be electrocuted if you come in contact with both a current carrying conductor and a grounded conductor at the same time.

Fifth, make sure that the ladder is setting on a level surface and all the safety latches are securely latched.

Sixth, keep both hands on the ladder when ascending or descending the ladder. Keep your hands free by carrying your tools in a tool pouch. Attach a rope to your rooftop displays and pull them up once you are safely on the rooftop.

Seventh, along with the fiberglass ladder you should purchase a safety harness that allows you to tether yourself to a solid structure i.e. a chimney. Working on a roof is dangerous under the best of circumstances, but it is especially dangerous when they are wet. The North Durabilt Full Body Harness with Grommetted Legs costs about $50 - 60 but it is money well spent when you consider what falling off the roof might cost you.

Eighth, make sure that there is plenty of daylight left before you start setting up your rooftop displays. The roof is no place to be when it is dark, raining, or snowing. Being on a roof in the dark or under adverse weather conditions is nothing more than an accident waiting to happen.

Ninth, the best way to anchor large displays to the rooftop is by using a combination of sandbags and guy wires. Sandbags are quite hefty, so you might want to have a helper on the roof with you to help you pull them up with your rope. Lash the sandbags to the "L"-brackets on the display and then use the guy wire to anchor the whole assembly to a chimney.

Tenth, dress appropriately. A properly fitted snowmobile suit is a good choice because it will keep you nice and warm without hampering your movement. Wear boots that give you good traction, boots designed for winter climbing is a good bet. Wear warm, tight fitting gloves too.

Work safely because you do not want to spend the holidays in a hospital bed.