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Surefooted Like a Cat |
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When it comes to safety for roofers, one of the essentials is
appropriate footwear. Every roofing safety guide you reference will
state the need for proper, stable footwear in good condition. But
you can do more than just buy a new pair of boots. There may be no place where it’s more important to have the sure footing of a cat than on a roof. For those working on sloped roofs, new, patented technology exists to enable workers to double their production while also increasing their safety. “It’s called Traction-Grip technology, and it may change the way roofers work on varying surfaces and inclines,” said Doreen Cougar, whose company, Cougar Paws, manufactures the high-tech boot. The boot soles are actually made of industrial Velcro. Called the “hook,” it allows a replaceable “Traction-Grip” pad to be attached to the sole. One side of the Replaceable Pad, called the “loop,” is made of a felt type material. When attached to the “hook” it holds firmly. When the pad wears down, it can be peeled off and replaced by a new one. The traction-grip pad provides exceptional stability and mobility on roofs of varying surfaces and inclines. The boots come with three interchangeable rubber pads, one for metal, one for tile, slate or composite and a metal-spiked pair for tearoff work. The pads can be attached to any Cougar Paws boot and may also be used for street wear without compromising its roofing performance. Wear will vary from user to user — depending on weight, the pitch of the roof and the amount of time the user is on the roof. “So, because of this variance, we can’t say exactly how long they will last for you,” said Cougar. She said the boot is designed for roofers, adjusters, house inspectors, gutter installers, window cleaners, chimney sweeps, and anyone else who works on hazardous inclines or roof surfaces. “Adjusters and inspectors get an average of one month use per pair of pads. Roofers get from one week to two weeks wear. The average user will spend only pennies a day,” she said. Roofers will never be able to move like a cat on a hot tin roof, nor should they, but Cougar’s Traction Grip technology should at least give them the confidence to work as safely and productively as possible. For more information about Cougar Paws, go to www.cougarpaws.com. FSM
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