New Visual Checklist for Trussed Rafter Safety

THE TRUSSED RAFTER ASSOCIATION (TRA) has released a new visual checklist to accompany its ten steps to trussed rafter safety.

The ‘Trussed Rafters On Site’ one-page checklist has been produced by the TRA to illustrate the 10 fundamental steps for site safety when working with trusses.

It covers all the basic dos and don’ts of planning, mechanical lifting, storage, checking drawings, fixing, bracing and supporting loads.

The steps form the basis for a construction phase plan as required by the Construction Design and Management Regulations (CDM) 2015.

The visual guide can be used as part of site inductions and reminders for trained workers who might not always have easy access to the TRA’s longer technical guidance.

Popular construction component

Trussed rafters are an increasingly popular roofing component used by builders to improve the speed and quality of new home construction.

As an easily accessible product that fits well with the industry’s move towards more modern methods of construction (MMC), trussed rafters help to improve safety and reduce on-site labour costs.

Nick Boulton, TRA chief executive, said:  “Trussed rafters are a simple but effective way of building a roof. This new infographic is designed to provide information in a clear and visual way and has two main purposes.

“The first is educational – ensuring site staff know how to safely work with trusses. The second is to provide a clear and concise checklist which can be used to develop a CDM-compliant construction phase plan.

“We want to make life on site as safe as possible and that is why there is also more detailed information about each step on our website. As it says in this new guide, ‘if in doubt please ask’. The TRA is here to provide help and guidance when it comes to working with trusses and I hope our members, contractors and housebuilders find this infographic a useful tool.”

The Trussed Rafters On Site guide is available to download from the TRA website here.