October 2022

Roof Windows
A STEP UP IN SAFETY
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports that between April 2021 and March 2022
the sector saw a total of 123 work-related deaths, 30 of which were caused by working at
height. David Loughran, Technical Team Leader at Keylite Roof Windows, feels this is far
too high and offers his advice on how to stay safe working at height...
Despite a shocking 25%
increase in the rate of
fatal injuries to
construction workers in 2021,
the sector has begun to see a
slow, long-term downward trend in
fatalities thanks to a renewed way of
thinking in more recent years.
Training, risk assessments and
method statements are widely
used in the construction
industry to help manage work
and communicate required safety
aspects. The HSE suggests trying to avoid
working at height whenever possible, but for jobs
such as roof window installation, this may appear
all but impossible.
Over 60% of deaths while working at height
involve falls from ladders, scaffolds, working
platforms and roof edges, or through fragile roofs
and rooflights. But what may be surprising is that
it’s actually the smaller projects that often lead to
fatal and serious injuries.
Roof work accounts for a quarter of all deaths in
the construction industry due to its high-risk
conditions. During the fitting of roof windows, the
surrounding area can be considered high hazard,
with loose tiles and fragile footing demanding
careful planning and action.
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 suggests
that employers and those in control of any work
at height activity (e.g. building owners, facilities
managers, site managers) must make sure work
is properly planned, supervised and carried out
by those who are competent and fit to work.
They go on to say that installers have general
Left: David Loughran. Above: Keylite installation projects.
legal duties to take reasonable care of
themselves and others who may be affected
by their actions, and they must co-operate with
their employer to enable their health and safety
duties and requirements to be complied with.
Assess the risks
Installers should first assess the risks. Height,
duration, frequency, and weather conditions all
affect worker safety. Precautions should be in
place to stop materials and objects from falling,
or at the very least to stop anyone from being
injured by using the likes of exclusion zones or
mesh on scaffolding.
When installing roof windows, each area where
the installer will work at height needs to be
checked before use, every time, and risk
assessments should be carried out so that
employees can plan for possible emergencies.
It is vital to consider safety measures that protect
everyone at risk before measures that only
protect the individual – whether it be clients who
are inhabiting the house while work goes on, or
colleagues that are working nearby.
Workers should ensure that they can get to and
from a window installation with ease, while all
equipment must be maintained and
checked regularly to ensure they are
suitable, stable, and strong enough for
the job.
This means taking care to not overload or
overreach on ladders or platforms, and to
never rest equipment on weak surfaces
such as glazing.
Seemingly low-risk, relatively
straightforward tasks like installing roof
windows will of course require less effort
when it comes to planning; but employers and
contractors alike should remain in control and
always assess the risks.
The government provides advice on how to do
this at: www.hse.gov.uk/risk/riskassessment.htm.
Keylite is a firm believer that manufacturers
should be doing more to protect those on site.
As suggested by HSE, Keylite wants to keep
installers’ feet on the ground for as much time as
possible. This is why all Keylite roof windows are
designed so that they can be fitted from the
inside of a building, with the glazed sash already
in place – thanks to its patented Flick-Fit
brackets and sash hinge finger springs.
In fact, an expanding thermal collar and Flick-Fit
brackets are integrated as standard on all Keylite
roof windows, and lead to safer, faster and
cheaper installation.
Contact Keylite Roof Windows
01283 200158
www.keyliteroofwindows.com/installers/
@Keylite
28 TC OCTOBER 2022