After a heavy winter, calls start coming in: can you clear the roof, or deal with the ice along the edge? It can be good work, but it is a different kind of risk than plowing a lot. Workers are at height, the roof itself can be damaged, and whatever comes down lands on something or someone.
This post covers the fall protection rules in each province, the liability questions roof work raises, and what to talk through with a broker before you add it.
General information only, not legal or safety advice. Confirm current requirements with your provincial occupational health and safety regulator.
Why Roof Work Is Different
On the ground, snow claims often involve slips and property damage. On a roof, the list gets longer:
- Falls from height by workers.
- Damage to the roof and what is on it: shingles, membranes, vents, skylights, eavestroughs.
- Falling snow and ice striking people, vehicles or landscaping below.
- New hazards on the ground where roof snow is dropped onto walkways or entrances.
Fall Protection Thresholds by Province
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) summarizes the thresholds:
- Ontario, construction (O. Reg. 213/91): required where a worker could fall more than 3 metres, or 1.2 metres if the work area is used as a path for a wheelbarrow or similar equipment.
- Ontario, industrial (Reg. 851, s. 85): required for a fall of more than three metres.
- British Columbia (B.C. Reg. 296/97, Part 11): required where a fall of 3 m (10 ft) or more may occur, or where a lower fall carries a greater risk of injury.
- Alberta (OHS Code, Part 9): required at a vertical distance of 3 metres or more, or less if there is an unusual possibility of injury.
- Saskatchewan (OHS Regulations, 2020): required where a worker may fall 3 metres or more and there are no guardrails.
Lower heights still matter. IHSA notes that most construction fall incidents are falls from heights, "even though the height may be no more than two or three metres."
Roof Snow Loads
Design roof snow loads are set by location in the climatic data tables of the building code. The National Building Code of Canada 2020 is available free from the National Research Council. Whether a particular roof is overloaded is a question for an engineer or the building owner's advisers, not for a plow crew.
Ice Dams in General Terms
Ice dams are ridges of ice that can build up along roof edges. How to deal with one safely depends on the roof, the building and the conditions, and some owners bring in a roofing contractor rather than a snow contractor. If you take on this work, be clear in writing about what you will and will not do, and what methods you will use.
Where Liability Can Arise
Roof work touches several parts of an insurance program:
- Damage to the building or to people below is generally a general liability question. Roof work is an exposure to disclose to your insurer or broker, and policies can treat it differently from ground work. See roof snow removal insurance.
- Injuries to your own workers fall under workers compensation rules in your province, such as WSIB in Ontario or WorkSafeBC.
- Harnesses, ladders and tools can be covered under tools and contents or equipment insurance.
- Subcontracted roof crews should carry their own insurance and workers compensation. See hiring subcontractors safely.
Questions to Ask a Broker
- Is roof snow removal disclosed on my policy, and are there any height or building type limits?
- Does my policy have exclusions for work at height or for damage to the property I am working on?
- Do my commercial contracts expect roof work to be covered at the same limits as my ground work?
A written safety program with fall protection procedures and training records also helps show insurers and clients that you take the exposure seriously.
Sources
- CCOHS: Fall protection legislation
- WorkSafeBC: OHS Regulation Part 11
- IHSA: Fall prevention
- NRC: National Building Code of Canada 2020
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Frequently Asked Questions
At what height is fall protection required for roof snow removal?
In Ontario, BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan the general threshold is 3 metres, with lower thresholds in some situations. Confirm the rule for your work with your provincial regulator.
Does general liability cover damage caused during roof snow removal?
It depends on the policy. Roof work is an exposure to disclose to your insurer or broker, so ask a broker to confirm.
Should snow contractors remove ice dams?
That depends on the roof and your experience. Some owners hire roofing contractors for ice dams. If you take it on, put your scope and methods in writing and confirm coverage first.