Product Overview

Summary: This Roof Repair Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, step-by-step method for carrying out roof repairs safely and efficiently at Australian workplaces. It focuses on working at heights, weather exposure and material handling risks, helping businesses protect workers while maintaining compliance with WHS laws and relevant Australian Standards.

Roof repair work is inherently high-risk, with workers exposed to falls from height, fragile surfaces, electrical hazards, and rapidly changing weather conditions. This Roof Repair Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, practical framework for planning and carrying out roof repairs on residential, commercial and industrial sites across Australia. It guides workers and supervisors through pre-start assessments, safe access and edge protection, material handling, and systematic repair methods so that each task is performed in a consistent, controlled and defensible way.

For businesses, this SOP helps translate legislative WHS duties into clear actions on the roof, reducing the reliance on informal practices or “we’ve always done it this way” approaches. It supports safer decision-making about when roof work can proceed, what controls must be in place, and how to respond if conditions change or an incident occurs. By implementing this procedure, organisations can reduce incident rates, improve productivity by minimising rework and delays, and demonstrate due diligence to regulators, clients and principal contractors across the Australian construction and property sectors.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of falls from height and fragile roof surfaces through structured planning and control measures.
• Ensure compliance with Australian WHS legislation and working at heights requirements for roof repair activities.
• Standardise roof repair practices across teams, subcontractors and sites to improve quality and consistency.
• Minimise project delays and rework by clearly defining preparation, inspection and repair steps.
• Support effective training and onboarding of new roof workers with a clear, task-specific procedure.

Who is this for?

• Roofers
• Roof Plumbers
• General Builders
• Maintenance Technicians
• Site Supervisors
• Construction Project Managers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Facilities and Asset Managers
• Small Building and Roofing Business Owners

Hazards Addressed

• Falls from unprotected roof edges, openings and ladders
• Falls through fragile roofing materials such as skylights, asbestos cement sheets and aged metal decking
• Slips and trips on wet, dusty, mossy or uneven roof surfaces
• Strains and sprains from manual handling of roofing sheets, tiles and equipment at height
• Exposure to extreme weather conditions including heat, UV, wind and sudden storms
• Contact with overhead or concealed electrical services, including solar PV systems
• Falling objects striking people below from dropped tools or materials
• Exposure to asbestos-containing materials during repair of older roofs
• Use of power tools and cutting equipment on roofs, including noise and vibration risks

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Applicable Roof Types
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Required Licences, Training and Inductions
• 5.0 Tools, Equipment and Materials
• 6.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements
• 7.0 Pre-Start Planning and Risk Assessment
• 8.0 Site Access, Traffic Management and Public Protection
• 9.0 Roof Condition Assessment and Identification of Fragile Areas
• 10.0 Working at Heights Controls (Edge Protection, Fall Arrest, Anchor Points)
• 11.0 Safe Use of Ladders, Scaffolds and Roof Access Systems
• 12.0 Manual Handling and Material Handling on Roofs
• 13.0 Weather, Environmental and UV Exposure Controls
• 14.0 Safe Work Method for Common Roof Repairs (Tiles, Metal, Membrane, Flashings)
• 15.0 Controls for Electrical Hazards and Solar PV Installations
• 16.0 Asbestos and Hazardous Materials Considerations
• 17.0 Housekeeping, Falling Objects and Exclusion Zones
• 18.0 Quality Checks and Post-Repair Inspection
• 19.0 Demobilisation, Cleanup and Waste Disposal
• 20.0 Incident Reporting, Near Misses and Corrective Actions
• 21.0 Training, Communication and Review of the Procedure
• 22.0 Document Control and Record-Keeping Requirements

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Regulations – Part 4.4 Falls
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Construction Work
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
• AS/NZS 1891 series: Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices
• AS/NZS 1657: Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders – Design, construction and installation
• AS/NZS 5532: Manufacturing requirements for single-point anchor device used for harness-based work at height
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment (for dust and asbestos-related tasks)
• AS/NZS 1337.1: Personal eye protection
• AS 4576: Guidelines for scaffolding (where scaffolds are used for roof access or edge protection)