Construction Supervisor License Practice Exam

What safety measure is necessary when roofing work is performed at significant heights?

1. Scaffolding installation

2. Safety harness usage

3. Regular breaks

4. Ground-level supervision

The correct answer is: Safety harness usage

When performing roofing work at significant heights, the usage of safety harnesses is a crucial safety measure. Safety harnesses are designed to prevent falls, which are one of the most serious hazards in construction occupations, particularly in roofing where workers are often exposed to elevated work surfaces. When correctly used, a safety harness can significantly reduce the risk of injury by fastening the worker securely to a stable structure, ensuring that in the event of a slip or loss of balance, the worker is prevented from falling to the ground. In roofing work, where workers can sometimes be working several stories high, it is vital to have measures in place that address the risks posed by the environment. Safety harnesses, often used in conjunction with other fall protection systems such as guardrails or safety nets, provide essential security. While other options like scaffolding installation can provide a safe working platform and regular breaks help manage worker fatigue, they do not directly mitigate the immediate risk of falling from great heights as effectively as a safety harness does. Ground-level supervision is important for overall site safety but does not provide any personal protection to workers engaged in roofing tasks at heights. Hence, the emphasis on safety harness usage underscores the importance of personal fall protection in high-risk roofing activities.