Many apartment buildings, hotels, work environments, and even homes have access to the roof. Whether you live in a one-story home or a 20-story building, being on that roof could be a very dangerous thing. Every month, an average of 6 Americans die from falling off of their roof. Most of these accidents occur at homes, where a homeowner is trying to improve the image or quality of their house in a home improvement venture. As well, construction workers will fall when on the job working on the roof of one of their projects.

Home roofs are normally slanted. This brings on the potential for sliding, and in particularly wet weather you could lose your footing and fall to the pavement. Even from a one-story roof, this can still be a 15-foot drop. GAF, a popular roofing manufacturer, suggests that home improvers avoid ever working on their roof in rainy or snowy weather. You should also avoid working on the roof in hot temperatures because the black shingles may heat up to burning temperatures. If you choose to head to your roof, make sure to wear the appropriate shoes with an adequate grip. The best shoes to wear are soft-soled boots which have great traction. Also, don’t attempt to climb onto a roof with Spanish tiling, tin roofing or another irregular top unless you have taken the necessary safety precautions and have a partner there to assist you.

On these surfaces, as well as on roofs with a significant incline, you should always wear a harness. You can rig this harness so that if you do trip and stumble, a partner below can tighten the rope and protect you from a fall. You may also want to think about dropping a net below you in case of a fall, or putting temporary guard rails around your work site. Always wear a helmet when working on your roof. You will be at most risk to injury and death if your head is not protected, because impact could inflict significant brain damage. Never let children up onto the roof while you are working, or permit pets to keep you company above the ground. Also, don’t leave tools out where they could become a trip hazard, or strew cords in places where they could catch your foot.

While some people enjoy taking naps on their roof or reading up high, this is not recommended. If you fail to pay attention you may lose your balance and roll of the roof and onto the ground. Also, before you journey up to your roof, make sure that it is sturdy. In older or dilapidated houses, the wood may have rotted or the supporting ceiling may not be adequate to hold your weight. This could cause the roof to cave, sending you down into your home where you could land on hard furniture or the rough floor.

Roofs can also be dangerous when it comes to hotels and apartments. Some buildings allow roof access, but often don’t have adequate railings and guards. Because of this, you should exercise extreme caution when on these high platforms. If you are with children, keep them far from the edge of the roof. Never attempt to jump from the roof of one building to another. While this may be a neat stunt in movies, it is often not feasible in reality. Never play sports or running games on a roof without guardrails, as this could end up causing severe injury. If you were injured in a roof accident, and it was not your fault, then you may want to consider civil litigation. You shouldn’t have to cover hospital bills and lost wages with your own money, especially if you weren’t responsible for the accident.