You can go it alone Safety lines require you to work in pairs in case of a fall. The safety line doesn’t stop you from falling; it just catches you before you fall too far. And if you do fall, your co-worker has to be ready to pull you up, which is no mean feat....

Don’t . . . Use timber: Timber is not the cost-effective option it seems to be. Harmful tannins will leach from it, corroding your roof. Repairing this damage alone could cost you more than installing a longer-lasting system. Timber can also become slippery when wet, especially if moss and mould start to grow. The damaged roof...

When your site is susceptible to storms of any sort, don’t throw caution to the wind. It’s easy to forget your roof is up there – until it’s not. Access: A safe roof system starts with suitable access. This means you should be able to safely get there in most conditions and with tools. Ask...

The roof, that is. Usually it is out of sight and out of mind. It is not until there is a problem or service workers need access to plant items that you realise the importance of safe access. When items such as air conditioners fail, it is imperative that tradespersons can get up there quickly...

Why do we need these new laws? Nobody goes to work expecting to get hurt, sick or killed, but in New Zealand, far too many people do. On average, 73 people die on the job each year, one in ten is harmed and over 600 die from work-related diseases; by world standards, we are not...