NFRC Launches New Campaign, Don’t Fall for Fragile

Image: HSE

Falls from height through fragile roofs and rooflights remain the leading cause of fatality in the workplace and contribute to a high percentage of workplace injuries.

Just last week, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) released CCTV footage capturing the harrowing moment a scaffolder fell through a fragile roof skylight.

The National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) is calling on the roofing sector and wider industry to take the necessary steps to identify risk and prevent falls from height, driving positive change through practical action.

Don’t Fall for Fragile is a campaign to help contractors, clients, designers, and building owners identify fragile roof risks early, plan work properly and stop unsafe shortcuts before someone gets hurt.

Gary Walpole, NFRC Technical Safety, Health, and Environment Officer

“Every year, workers are killed or seriously injured after falling through fragile roofs and rooflights. These incidents are entirely foreseeable and preventable. The purpose of NFRC’s ‘Don’t Fall for Fragile – Step Back & Plan’ campaign is simple: encourage everyone involved in roof work to stop, assess the risks properly, and put effective controls in place before anyone sets foot on the roof,” explains Gary Walpole, NFRC Technical Safety, Health and Environment Officer. 

“Don’t Fall for Fragile is about challenging assumptions. A roof that looks safe may not be safe. That’s why this campaign focuses on planning, competence and making the right decisions at the earliest stage of a project,” Gary added.

Pledge Your Commitment

The campaign asks those working at height, or anyone involved in the planning of works at height, to pledge their commitment and reinforce safer planning, access and working practices across their workforce and supply chain.

“Clients, designers and contractors all have a role to play. The principles of prevention tell us that risks should be eliminated or reduced at the earliest opportunity. The safest solution is rarely found once work has already started,” continues Gary. 

Don’t Fall for Fragile

The launch of Don’t Fall for Fragile follows NFRC’s recent Cut the Dust campaign, forming part of a wider strategy cantered around health, safety, and wellbeing and providing practical guidance and solutions to enable individuals, employers, and clients to act in accordance with health and safety best practice, driving a positive change in culture and the mindset of those within the built environment.

“The statistics for falls from height are devastating, and we must come together to change that,” says Gary.

“Don’t Fall for Fragile echoes the fantastic work of No Falls Foundation by providing people education, guidance, and practical steps to take. I really encourage anyone involved with working at height to get behind this campaign and pledge their support.”

Those who pledge will receive a PDF poster to print and display at their workplace, a certificate, NFRC guidance, and a social media pack.

>> Read more about working at height in the news