Roofers and Slaters
Also considered a carpenter, a roofer or slater is someone who is charged with the task of installing, replacing, or repairing roofs on commercial or residential properties. Often, the terms roofer and slater are used interchangeably.
Though experienced roofers are trained to work in high places, a roofer's job can be quite hazardous and great precautions are taken to insure his/her safety.
Roofers/Slaters and Asbestos
For decades, roofers were subject to more dangers than the ones posed by working in high places. For many years, most of the material used in the roofing process was made of or coated with asbestos. Asbestos was used for two reasons: 1) durability - a roof made of asbestos would last for many years; and 2) fire and heat resistance - a fire resistant roof meant that occupants or workers inside were safer.
Some of the asbestos-containing roofing products may have included:
- roofing tiles and shingles
- smooth and mineral-surfaced roofing felts
- asphalt shingles
- caulking putties
- cold-applied adhesives
- roofing putty
- fire sealants
- mastic
- corrugated, flat, or laminated cement extrusion panels
Roofing is a fine art and no two roofs are exactly the same. That means roofing materials usually need to be cut in order to properly cover the roof. So, asbestos shingles were sawed, nailed, drilled, or otherwise adjusted in order for the job to be done properly. The manipulation of these and other asbestos-containing materials resulted in the release of toxic asbestos fibers, which were easily inhaled by those working nearby, including not only roofers and slaters but other construction professionals as well.
Removing or repairing old roofs was also a hazard. Without benefit of protective gear, roofers - unaware of the dangers of asbestos - would haphazardly rip apart old asbestos to make way for a new roof. The very act of tearing the material would cause the release of toxic fibers and their subsequent inhalation.
Roofers are just one profession among many construction-related professions that have seen a fairly high incidence of asbestos-related diseases, caused by the roofer's constant exposure to myriad asbestos-containing roofing products. Though new roofs do not contain asbestos, roofers/slaters should still be aware that the possibility of developing an asbestos-related disease remains a real possibility, particularly when working on old roofs that may contain the hazardous mineral.
Last modified: December 17 2007.
