Rooflight Association Pledges Support for ‘Don’t Fall for Fragile’ Campaign

The Rooflight Association (RA) has pledged its support for the National Federation of Roofing Contractors’ (NFRC) ‘Don’t Fall for Fragile – Step Back and Plan’ campaign to reinforce the importance of identifying and managing fragile roof risks before work at height begins.

As a founding member of the Advisory Committee for Roofsafety, the RA has worked for more than 25 years to promote safer roofing practices and the appropriate specification, installation and use of tested, non-fragile rooflight materials. One consistent key message is that non-fragile does not mean safe to walk on. Rooflights should never be walked on unless specifically designed for that purpose.

The RA is supporting the campaign’s call for a change in working culture, emphasising that roof workers should never assume a roof is safe to walk on without confirmation from a competent person, although confirmation does not remove the need for a planned safe system of work.

While rooflights and other roof materials can be designed and supplied as non-fragile, their condition can change over time. Weathering, corrosion, damage and localised pollutants can affect the performance and integrity of materials, potentially rendering previously non-fragile roof elements fragile.

The RA is highlighting the need to consider the complete roof system and ensure that all components are correctly specified, installed and maintained for the intended period of non-fragility.

The ‘Don’t Fall for Fragile’ campaign encourages those planning and undertaking work at height to identify fragile risks, plan before access, prioritise collective protection, control rooflight risks and use harnesses correctly.

Fragility is Not Always Obvious

Mark Wilcox, Chair of The Rooflight Association

Mark Wilcox, Chair of The Rooflight Association, said: “Falls from height remain a significant cause of fatal and life-changing injuries in construction, yet many of these incidents could be prevented through better planning and risk management.

“As a founding member of the Advisory Committee for Roofsafety, the Rooflight Association has a long-standing commitment to improving roof safety and educating the industry about the correct use of rooflights and other roof materials.

“Fragility is not always obvious. A rooflight or other roof element may look perfectly sound but could have deteriorated or been damaged over time. The message has to be simple: if the condition and performance of a roof cannot be confirmed, it should be treated as fragile.

“The RA strongly supports ‘Don’t Fall for Fragile – Step Back and Plan’ and its focus on changing behaviours before work starts. Taking the time to assess the risks, establish safe access and put appropriate protection in place can prevent a serious incident.”

Supporting ‘Cut the Dust’ Campaign

The RA is also supporting the NFRC’s ‘Cut the Dust’ campaign, which highlights the risks associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica when cutting, drilling or grinding materials such as concrete and clay roof tiles, slate and mortar.

While the dangers of asbestos fibres are well established, the potential health effects of exposure to fine dust generated during roofing activities are less widely understood. The campaign promotes practical measures to reduce exposure, including controlling dust at source and using appropriate cutting methods, containment, respiratory protective equipment, training and supervision.

Mark Wilcox added: “Roof safety is about more than preventing falls.  Protecting the long-term health of the roofing workforce is equally important. ‘Cut the Dust’ provides practical guidance to help contractors reduce exposure to harmful dust, and we believe it is particularly relevant to our members’ customers and the wider roofing supply chain.

“Every person working in roofing should be able to return home in the same good health as when they arrived at work. Supporting initiatives that help make safer working practices part of everyday roofing culture is an important part of achieving that.”

The Rooflight Association is encouraging its members and the wider roofing and construction supply chain to make use of the campaign resources and reinforce safe working practices when planning and carrying out work at height.

More information about rooflights and safety can be found here: Rooflights | Safety on Roofs. For more information about ‘Don’t Fall for Fragile’ and ‘Cut the Dust’ visit: NFRC Don’t Fall for Fragile and NFRC Cut the Dust.

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