Working Conditions Roofing work is strenuous. It involves heavy lifting, as well as climbing, bending, and kneeling. Roofers risk injuries from slips or falls from scaffolds, ladders, or roofs, and burns from hot bitumen. In fact, of all construction industries, the roofing industry has the highest accident rate. Roofers work outdoors in all types of weather, particularly when making repairs.
Roofs are extremely hot during the summer.
Employment Roofers held about 138,000 jobs in 1996. Almost all wage and salary roofers worked for roofing contractors. Nearly 3 out of every 10 roofers were self-employed. Many self-employed roofers specialize in residential work. Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement Most roofers acquire their skills informally by working as helpers for experienced roofers.