February 27, 2025

Removing snow from your roof can be a dangerous task, as one Flesherton resident realizes

BY SOUTHGREY.CA STAFF — In a relentless winter like the one we've had, a significant layer of thick snow on your roof can have dangerous consequences. The sudden mild temperature swing this week has also exacerbated the problem, making roof loads wetter and much heavier, to boot! In the past few weeks, Grey County homeowners have been scrambling to remedy this situation, which might explain the empty hardware store displays where snow shovels and roof rakes would normally be stocked.

But protecting your roof by raking or shovelling it off, can also lead to dangerous consequences, as one weekend warrior found out the hard way.

On February 25, after a day removing snow from his roof, Flesherton resident, Jay Rogerson was knocked off his ladder from about 14 feet. As a result he has suffered a compression fracture to his spine, as well as injuries to both heels, his pelvis and ribs. "Two days after my accident, I am exhausted, swollen and aching all over. It hurts to breathe," Jay recently posted to social media.

His injuries will lead to 30-60 days off from work, pushing his medical leave from work to May 5. "We will need help with bills and other expenses," says Jay. "I have never been one to ask for help. But at this time we need it."

To help with unexpected expenses, a GoFundMe fundraising appeal was started. The goal is to raise $5,000 and over $1,100 has already been raised since the accident. "The response this far has been amazing," says Jay. "A very big and heartfelt thanks to everyone that has donated this far."

To donate and help Jay pay bills and other expenses not covered by OHIP or private insurance, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/jay-rogersons-recovery-and-expenses.

Jay's story is a cautionary tale. While it’s important to remove snow from your roof to prevent ice dams from forming, roofers give this advice on how to remove it safely:

• Use a roof rake to safely remove snow from your roof without damaging the shingles.
• Be careful not to rake snow into your gutters and overload them with too much snow – they are not meant to carry as much weight as your roof and this can cause them to collapse.
• You should never place a ladder on top of snow or ice due to the lack of friction between the ladder and the surface. Whenever possible, use a safety mat or don't use a ladder at all in winter conditions.
• If you have a lot of snow on your roof, it’s best to hire a professional roofing company to remove it for you.
• Keep an eye on the weather forecast and be prepared to clear your roof again after each heavy snowfall.

Photo: GoFundMe.

 

---

At South Grey News, we endeavour to bring you truthful and factual, up-to-date local community news in a quick and easy-to-digest format that’s free of political bias. We believe this service is more important today than ever before, as social media has given rise to misinformation, largely unchecked by big corporations who put profits ahead of their responsibilities.

South Grey News does not have the resources of a big corporation. We are a small, locally owned-and-operated organization. Research, analysis and physical attendance at public meetings and community events requires considerable effort. But contributions from readers and advertisers, however big or small, go a long way to helping us deliver positive, open and honest journalism for this community.

Please consider supporting South Grey News with a donation in lieu of a subscription fee and let us know that our efforts are appreciated. Thank you.