FEMA Snow Load Safety Guide

In light of Hurricane Sandy, FEMA is distributing training courses and workshops with information on how communities and homeowners can build stronger and minimize damage from natural disasters. The Agency's guide on snow load safety includes warning signs of overstress conditions, key safety issues and risks, and methods of snow removal. It also includes safety measures for removing snow: 

• Any roof snow removal should be conducted following proper OSHA protocol for work on rooftops. Use roof fall arrest harnesses where applicable. 
• Always have someone below the roof to keep foot traffic away from locations where falling snow or ice could cause injuries. 
• Ensure someone confirms that the area below removal site is free of equipment that could be damaged by falling snow or ice.
• Whenever snow is being removed from a roof, be careful of dislodged icicles. An icicle falling from a short height can still cause damage or injury.
• When using a non-metallic snow rake, be aware that roof snow can slide at any moment. Keep a safe distance away from the eave to remain outside of the sliding range.
• Buried skylights pose a high risk to workers on a roof removing snow. Properly mark this hazard as well as other rooftop hazards

According to the guide, snow removal should only be done by qualified individuals following safety protocols. For more information and to view the full guide, click here.