Man dies after falling 8 meters from roof while clearing snow

There's nothing wrong with clearing snow off a roof BUT one must always use safety equipment such as a proper fall arrest harness rope system. It may sound complex and expensive but they're not, usually about $300 including 30 metres of safety rope and it saves lives. The issue is why are they not so readily available in Japanese home improvement centres? Then again, seat belts are mandatory in cars and you still see people from time to time not wearing the in cars. It just boggles the mind. Sad way to go.

Most Japan home centres have a good range of safety harness, ropes, belts, helmets, safety boots, etc., as many small construction and related companies buy their supplies there, in JP Yen, not dollars. It is up to the individual to decide whether to buy them or not, and then whether to use them or not. Trouble is many of these people no longer have anyone to tell hem what to do, and even if they do, they don't listen. Pride comes before a fall...

'wanderlust' Helmets, ropes, safety boots, work wear, hi-vis safety vests and traffic directing LED wands and a BILLION ways to mark out traffic with pylons and poles but it's pretty hard to find fall arrest harnesses in DIY home centres in Japan. I know have tried and it took a lot more work than it should have. The blank stare you get when you ask for one is priceless followed by are you a mountain climber, are going to go rock climbing?

The dollar amount was just an example for those NOT in Japan, you know the ones that can't figure out why someone would go up on to a roof to get rid of all that damn weight before their post and beam (balsa-wood like) home collapses. I mentioned it in dollars also because I ended up buy one online from the US and of course I remember the dollar amount.