![PP Construction Safety logo and link to home page [1]](http://www.ppconstructionsafety.com/wp-content/themes/ppcs960/images/ppcslogo.jpg)
SAFER ROOFLIGHT REPLACEMENT
Risk during rooflight replacement reduced by working from below
Falls through fragile roofs and rooflights often occur during the replacement of rooflights. Avoiding the hazard of falling through fragile surfaces can be achieved by undertaking the work from below.
Letchworth Roofing Ltd working with Filon Ltd have developed a fixing system that allows sheet installation from below using just standard tools and a cherry picker.
The Fixsafe kits are available with a range of sheet sizes and profiles, as direct replacements for all popular asbestos and fibre cement sheeting. See short video
Comment
No work at height is 100% risk free and removing one risk may sometimes create another. There are now hardly any deaths during steel erection and roofing operations on new build “sheds” due to increased use of MEWPs and safety nets. However, the number of MEWP related incidents has risen. There is no such thing as a free lunch.
Replacing rooflights from below may come with other risks. However, this approach could make a major contribution towards preventing the 7-10 fatal falls through fragile roofs and rooflights that occur each year. If work is carried out beneath a roof the hazard of falling through the roof has been eliminated!
Latest Construction Health and Safety News
NEW EDGE PROTECTION INSTALLATION TRAINING
Trade body launches CSCS backed edge protection installer qualification
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 18th September 2017GOVERNMENT CALLS FOR ACTION ON ILL-HEALTH
Business leaders accept charge of inaction on work-related ill-health
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 18th September 2017FIRM FAILED TO ENFORCE FORK LIFT SEAT BELT USE
Operator suffered fatal crush injuries after FLT overturned
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 18th September 2017DIRECTOR AND FOREMAN JAILED OVER FATAL FALL
Failure to act on HSE advice ended in gross negligence manslaughter
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 18th September 2017PRISON SENTENCE FOR ROOFING CONTRACTOR
Council H&S officers reported dangerous roof work to HSE
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 14th September 2017HSE ENFORCEMENT WEEKLY UPDATE 14th SEPT 2017
Prosecutions and enforcement notices weekly update and analysis
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 14th September 2017LADDER STANDARDS MOVE UP A RUNG OR TWO
Ladder Association guide to fundamental changes in ladder standard
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 12th September 2017SILICA (RCS) DUST LIMIT – THE ONLY WAY IS DOWN?
US regulator cuts RCS exposure standard to half UK limit
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 12th September 2017SAFE2TORCH – REDUCING FLAT ROOF FIRE RISK
Industry body seeks to reduce ‘torch’ triggered fires at design stage
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 8th September 2017FIRM AND DIRECTOR SENTENCED OVER GAS RISK
Poorly planned extension prevented effective gas venting
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 7th September 2017£1 MILLION CLIENT FINE FOLLOWS FATAL FALL
Electrician died after fall from step ladder provided by client
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 7th September 2017HSE ENFORCEMENT WEEKLY UPDATE 6th SEPT 2017
Prosecutions and enforcement notices weekly update and analysis
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 7th September 2017HAVS HEALTH CHECK PROMPTS HSE PROSECUTION
Assessment of vibration exposure and control measures found wanting
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 7th September 2017HSE LUNG DISEASE SUMMIT TARGETS SILICA DUST (RCS)
Regulator starts major initiative on lung disease in construction
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 1st September 2017HSE COST RECOVERY NOW “FULLY INDEPENDENT”
New Fee for Intervention disputes procedure now in place
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 1st September 2017CLIENT FINED AS CDM 2015 PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR
Failure by client to appoint attracts PC duties by default
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 30th August 2017JOINER PARALYSED AFTER FALL THROUGH JOISTS
Fall prevention and risk minimisation measures not taken
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 30th August 2017HSE ENFORCEMENT WEEKLY UPDATE 30th AUG 2017
Prosecutions and enforcement notices weekly update and analysis
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 30th August 2017COMPLAINT COSTS CONTRACTOR £145,000 IN FINES
HSE prosecute CDM 2015 Principal Contractor over risk without injury
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 29th August 2017HSE ENFORCEMENT WEEKLY UPDATE 23rd AUG 2017
Prosecutions and enforcement notices weekly update and analysis
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd August 2017HSE CONSTRUCTION FATALITY RECORDS: Q1 2017/18
Latest HSE fatality records reveal four (4) deaths in first three months
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd August 2017HSE ON SILICA DUST (RCS): RISK MANAGEMENT UPDATE
New guidance available on key HSE Construction Sector priority
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd August 2017HOUSEHOLDER EXPOSED TO ASBESTOS RISK
Builder removed AIB during garage conversion in unsafe manner
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 22nd August 2017ASBESTOS REMOVAL FIRM IN MULTIPLE BREACH
Director sentenced to prison term and company fined £100k
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 22nd August 2017WORKMAN DIED IN FALL DURING ROOFWORK
Contractors failed to manage risk, communicate and coordinate work
Posted on 22nd August 2017
December 11th, 2009 at 8:38 am
[…] by work on or near fragile roofs and rooflights is well know and safe systems must be in place. Replacing rooflights from below is increasingly seen as the most cost effective […]
June 20th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
[…] and serious injuries arising from work on or near fragile roofs and rooflights. In many cases working from beneath the roof is practicable and a safer way to carry out such work using mobile elevating platforms as the […]
March 13th, 2012 at 3:24 pm
[…] (Southampton) Ltd failed to recognise that the project could not be completed from below the roof and therefore the equipment was not sufficient to ensure […]
July 15th, 2012 at 10:55 am
[…] a common cause of fatalities in the workplace. Maintenance to industrial roofs should ideally be carried out from below using a safe working platform. If access onto a fragile roof surface is unavoidable, then adequate […]
August 17th, 2012 at 11:37 am
[…] from below – work from underneath the roof using a suitable work […]
August 29th, 2012 at 11:28 am
[…] guidance will advocate access from a tower scaffold or mobile elevating work platform from underneath the roof and will be targeted at commercial clients (such as those managing industrial estates) as well […]
December 17th, 2013 at 3:15 pm
[…] company eventually got it right by working from inside the building and avoiding the need to physically go onto the roof, but it is sad that it took a serious incident before this […]
March 25th, 2014 at 2:31 pm
[…] The proposed guidance will probably encourage the adoption of work practices which involved working from below fragile surfaces. […]
April 15th, 2014 at 9:04 pm
[…] Replacing rooflights from below the roof […]