Hazards to consider in managing fall risks include.
Fragile roof hazards.
What you need to know.
Falls through fragile surfaces particularly fibre cement roofs and rooflights account for 22 of all fall from height fatal injuries in the construction industry.
Workers undertaking roof work and building maintenance can die or be permanently disabled when they fall through fragile surfaces.
The company left an inexperienced worker alone to work on the roof without suitable safety measures in place having told him to walk on the purlins which is extremely dangerous.
Safety mesh secured under fragile roofing or skylights a safety harness and fall arrest equipment such as static lines running lines or inertia reels along with appropriate training and supervision suitable footwear that controls the risk of slipping and other site hazards.
Example of signage to alert workers to fragile roofing material.
Unprotected edges fragile surfaces skylights holes or vents weather conditions such as wind and rain for example being blown over the edge or slipping on a wet roof surface trip hazards for example roof components and protrusions and overbalancing or losing grip on steep.
How to detect fragile roofs.
Safety alert for working on fragile roofs.
These two further recent incidents had the potential to be more serious and safework sa again remind businesses to be alert to the hazards and risks involved with fragile roof material and ensure that controls are in place to eliminate the risk.
All roofs should be considered fragile until they ve been deemed non fragile by a competent person.
Falls through fragile roofs and fragile roof lights cause death and serious injury.
According to hse a roof is or is likely to be fragile if.
What are the risks of working on fragile surfaces.
There are liner panels on built up sheeted roofs.
It s made of fibre cement sheets.
A significant rise in the number of fatalities involving working on roofs particularly involving fragile roof materials has prompted the health and safety authority to issue this safety alert to highlight the need for stringent health and safety procedures when carrying out this type of work.
Effective precautions must be taken for all work on or near fragile surfaces no matter how short the duration.
Falls through fragile roofs and rooflights account for some 22 per cent of falls from height in the construction industry or seven deaths and around 300 major injuries a year.
Health and safety executive 1 of 5 pages introduction this leaflet is aimed at building owners and occupiers construction businesses and workers in short anyone working on fragile roofs or having work done.
Safework sa issued a safety alert at this time to businesses and workers about managing the risk of fall from a fragile roof.
The preferred method of controlling height hazards while removing roofing material may be to use elevating work platforms or other temporary work platforms to gain access from below the roof.
