NFRC launches campaign to reduce falls through fragile roofs
The National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) has launched a new safety campaign calling on contractors, clients, designers and building owners to take action on one of the leading causes of fatal and serious injury in construction; falls through fragile roofs and rooflights.
Don't Fall for Fragile: Step Back and Plan urges everyone involved in roofing and construction work to identify fragile roof risks early, plan work properly and stop unsafe shortcuts before someone gets hurt. The campaign is particularly relevant to the scaffolding and access sector, where operatives regularly work in and around roof environments where fragile surfaces pose a serious risk.
One of the key messages of the campaign is that fragile roofs are not always obvious. A roof may look completely solid and yet still be unable to safely support a person or the impact of a fall. Fragile roof risks include rooflights, domes and skylights, fibre cement sheets, corroded or damaged metal sheets, liner panels and internal gutters, woodwool slabs and older roof decks and coated, overlaid or weathered roof surfaces, where weak areas may be hidden beneath coverings or repairs. As the NFRC puts it simply: if you don't know it's safe, treat it as fragile.
Too many incidents happen because people assume the roof is safe, rely on experience alone, or accept the cheapest access solution without properly considering the risk. The campaign is about changing that mindset. Before anyone steps onto or near a fragile roof, the work must be properly planned, the roof condition understood and the right access and fall prevention measures put in place.
Those who pledge their support to the campaign are committing to identifying fragile risks before work starts, treating rooflights and suspect materials as fragile unless confirmed otherwise, planning safe access, egress and rescue arrangements, using collective protection first wherever reasonably practicable, and challenging unsafe shortcuts and poor planning at every stage.
Campaign resources are free and available to everyone, not just NFRC members. Those who pledge will receive a PDF poster to display in their workplace, a certificate of commitment, NFRC guidance on fragile roof safety and a social media pack to help spread the message.
NASC encourages all members to take a look at the campaign and consider pledging their support. Fragile roof falls remain one of the most preventable causes of serious injury and death in our sector and initiatives like this play an important role in keeping the message front of mind.
To pledge your support and access the free resources, visit nfrc.co.uk/step-back-and-plan
