Fragile Roof Safety

Overview

Fragile Roof Safety should be managed through a planned system of work: identify the task-specific hazards, eliminate exposure where practical, use engineered or collective controls before relying on PPE, verify critical safeguards before starting, and stop the task when controls are missing or conditions change. This guide applies those principles specifically to identifying and controlling fragile roofing, skylights and weak surfaces.

Main Hazards

• • Falling through skylights or non-load-bearing roof panels
• • Hidden deterioration not visible from the walking surface
• • Falls to a lower level
• • Dropped objects striking people below
• • Unsafe access or unstable working position

Essential Controls

1. 1Treat uncertain roof surfaces and skylights as fragile until verified otherwise.
2. 2Use protected walkways, covers, guardrails or suitable personal fall protection to prevent access to fragile zones.
3. 3Eliminate work at height where the task can be completed from a safe level.
4. 4Prioritize guardrails, platforms and other collective fall-prevention measures.
5. 5Inspect access and fall-protection equipment before use and remove defective equipment from service.
6. 6Barricade the area below and maintain a practical rescue plan.

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