September 2019

Sheeting & Cladding
A ROBUST PLAN FOR FRAGILE WORK
Matthew Bailey, Divisional Manager for Inspection and Certification at HCL Safety, looks at
some of the factors that need to be considered when planning work on fragile roofs and
sheeting, and shares some best-practice guidance to ensure workers stay safe.
According to Health and Safety Executive
(HSE) data, falls through fragile surfaces,
particularly fibre-cement roofs and
rooflights, account for 22% of all falls from height
fatal injuries in the construction industry. In 2017
alone, falls accounted for 35 (28%) of all UK
fatalities in the workplace, and over 43,000
nonfatal accidents. The Reporting of Injuries,
Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences
Regulations (RIDDOR) note that over the last five
years, falls from height have accounted for an
average of 37 fatal injuries per
year; over 60% of these deaths
involve falls through fragile
roofs, roof edges, and from
ladders, scaffolds and working
platforms.
What is ‘fragile’?
HSE concerns around surfaces
where rooftop fragility may
present an additional risk to
workers relate to several
common hazards. These include
old rooflights, old liner panels,
non-reinforced fibre cement
sheets, corroded metal sheets, rotten chipboard,
non-load-bearing glass, and aged slates and
tiles.
For safe working practices, the assumption
(echoing HSE guidance) must always be: fragile
until known (or verified via certification evidence)
otherwise. When planning access, competent
persons – in conjunction with the building owner
or facilities manager – should recognise and
record when and where a roof may be fragile. The
rise in use of rooflights on buildings creates
particular challenges. Some designs may, over
several years of weathering and exposure to UV,
Above: Latchways walkSafe raised rooflight
covers.
start to lose their structural strength. Certain
rooflights are manufacturer-certified to be safe to
walk on; but, since sunlight can degrade many
substrates over time making them brittle, this
loadbearing capability is only certified for a
defined period of UV exposure. In contrast, many
other rooflight manufacturers do not warrant this
capability, and so their rooflights must always be
deemed fragile. Remember, too, that rooflights
may be difficult to see clearly in certain light
conditions.
Consider all options
When preparing to
undertake routine
maintenance like cleaning or
repairs at height, avoiding or
eliminating risk is always
the preferred option. Is there
really a need to work on or
near the fragile surface? Is
there another access
method, such as a cherrypicker,
that could provide
the necessary access to the
work area in a more
controlled environment? Alternatively, can the
work be completed from the underside of the roof,
perhaps via a tower inside the building? Some
rooflights, for example, are designed to be taken
out from the underside of the roof when they need
to be replaced due to degradation or age.
If there is no alternative but to access the roof,
fragile areas and the roof edge should, if possible,
be protected. For example, the surface can be
covered with a protective system, guard rails or
scaffolding can be erected. Where workers need
to manoeuvre around rooflights, for example set
within a parapet, safety netting can be put in
place underneath in addition to a fall arrest
system to mitigate a fall due to collapse. In this
scenario, in the event of an accident, a clear
rescue plan also needs to be in place.
Special protection measures
In terms of equipment to protect workers at height,
HCL installs a range of guardrails, fall arrest
systems and rooflight covers manufactured by MSA
Safety which can help to prevent workers from
falling through a fragile rooflight in the event of an
accidental trip or fall.
It’s important to remember, however, that all
equipment specified and how it is installed is
always subject to the specific nuances of
individual projects and roof surfaces. When it
comes to fall protection there’s no such thing as a
‘one size fits all’ approach. To help ensure that the
very best and safest solution for the job at hand is
put in place, installers should always be consulted
at the earliest stage possible.
Learn more. Stay safer.
As a company, we are committed to educating
customers and raising awareness of the unseen
hazards that fragile roofs pose during works. For
example, guard rails may be in place to allow for
gutter cleaning, but there may be no rooflight
protection for workers when traversing into the
central roof area. One of the most effective
opportunities to highlight these dangers is during
competency training, and I’m proud to say HCL
competency training for working at height
specifically deals with fragile roof risks. Never
forget: awareness saves lives.
Contact HCL Safety
0845 6000086
www.hclsafety.com
@HCLSafety
74 TC SEPTEMBER 2019