Working Safely and Accessing the Roof
Roof inspection is one of the higher-risk jobs in the trades, and most injuries happen during access, not on the roof itself. Before you ever climb, walk the perimeter and assess the situation from the ground. Check the pitch, the height, the surrounding obstacles, and the weather. Wet, frosty, mossy, or steep roofs are not safe to walk, and a good inspector knows when to inspect from a ladder, from the eaves, or with binoculars and a drone instead of stepping onto the surface.
Set your ladder on firm, level ground at roughly a four-to-one angle, meaning one foot out for every four feet of height. The ladder should extend about three feet above the roof edge so you have something to hold while transitioning. Tie off or have a helper foot the ladder, and never carry tools in your hands while climbing.
Wear soft-soled shoes with good grip, and on anything steep or high, use a personal fall arrest system anchored to a rated point. Watch for hidden hazards: brittle or rotten decking that feels spongy underfoot, loose granules that act like ball bearings, power lines near the eaves, and skylights that will not hold your weight.
When in doubt, stay off. A thorough inspection from the edge plus photos is far better than a fall. Your judgment about when not to walk a roof is part of being a professional.