Roof Tile Repairs and Replacement

Yes. Any construction work involving a risk of falling more than 2 metres (3 metres in SA, 3 metres for housing construction in QLD) is classified as high-risk construction work requiring a SWMS. Most roof repair work involves heights greater than 2 metres. The scope of repair (whether replacing 1 tile or 50 tiles) does not change this requirement.

For brief, localised repairs, a travel restraint system connected to certified anchor points may be sufficient. For extended repair work covering larger areas, temporary edge protection compliant with AS/NZS 4994.1 and 4994.2 should be installed. Full body harnesses connected to anchor points (AS/NZS 5532) are required when installing/dismantling edge protection, working on steep pitches (>25 degrees), or when edge protection is not practicable.

If the building was constructed or renovated before 1990, asbestos-containing materials (including tiles, ridge caps, and underlays) may be present. You cannot identify asbestos by visual inspection alone - laboratory testing is required for confirmation. For pre-1990 buildings where asbestos status is unknown, either arrange testing by a competent assessor or assume asbestos is present and take appropriate precautions (do not cut, drill, or break tiles).

Stop work immediately and leave the area. Do not attempt to clean up. Wet the disturbed material if safe to do so. Seal off the area and prevent others from entering. Contact your supervisor and arrange for a licensed asbestos removalist. Anyone potentially exposed should record the incident for health monitoring purposes. In most states, removal of more than 10m² of non-friable asbestos requires a licensed removalist.

No. Always use roof ladders or crawl boards to distribute your weight and prevent tile breakage. When you must step on tiles, step only on the lower third of the tile (directly over the batten) where it has the most support. Never step on the centre of a tile. Test tile stability before placing full weight. Existing tiles may be loose, cracked, or weakened by age.

All workers require a Construction Induction Card (White Card) and Working at Heights training (RIIWHS204E). Workers using fall arrest harnesses need harness user training including rescue procedures. Asbestos Awareness training is mandatory for work on pre-1990 buildings. Workers cutting tiles need Silica Awareness training. In Victoria, refresher training is recommended every 2 years.

In South Australia, high-risk construction work requiring a SWMS currently involves a risk of falling more than 3 metres, higher than most other states (2 metres). However, from 1 July 2026, SA will align with national model regulations and the threshold will change to 2 metres. Regardless of the SWMS threshold, fall protection must still be provided for any work where there is a risk of falling, based on risk assessment.

Queensland operates under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011. For housing construction specifically, fall prevention/arrest controls are mandatory for falls of 3 metres or more, but for falls between 2-3m a risk assessment must still be conducted. Construction work over 2m is still classified as high-risk requiring a SWMS. Before roof work, inspect for fragile surfaces, ensure adequate edge protection, and have a documented rescue plan if using harness systems.

Solar PV systems generate electricity whenever exposed to light. Before working near solar panels: isolate the system at both the inverter AND the DC isolator, verify isolation, and never touch panels or DC cables (they may still be live in daylight even when "isolated"). Maintain at least 1 metre clearance from all solar components. Do not step on or place materials on solar panels. If panels need to be removed, this should be done by a licensed electrician.

Wet cutting is mandatory - dry cutting is not permitted. Set up a dedicated cutting station at ground level, away from other workers and building occupants, positioned downwind. Use continuous water suppression to the blade. Workers must wear P2/N95 respirators during all cutting operations. Clean up using wet methods only - never dry sweep. Use manual tile nippers for small cuts where possible to avoid generating dust.