What happened
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. The campaign aims to raise awareness around the risks of working on fragile roofs and the importance of risk identification and planning before work at height begins, according to Roofing Today.
The RA has released a statement highlighting its 25-year commitment to promoting safer roofing practices, with a particular focus on specifying, installing and using tested, non-fragile rooflight materials. The RA reiterated that non-fragile materials must not be assumed safe to walk on. Only rooflights specifically designed for that purpose should be walked on.
Mark Wilcox, Chair of the Rooflight Association, is quoted supporting the campaign and stressing that falls from height remain a "significant cause of fatal and life-changing injuries" in construction. He said many incidents could be prevented through proper planning and risk management.
The RA is also backing the NFRC’s 'Cut the Dust' campaign. This second initiative raises awareness of risks from respirable crystalline silica generated when cutting or grinding materials such as roof tiles and slate.
The background
The RA is a founding member of the Advisory Committee for Roofsafety. The group has spent over 25 years promoting safe use, specification and installation of non-fragile rooflight materials. The organisation makes clear that just because a material is classed as non-fragile, it should not be treated as load-bearing unless specifically designed for that purpose.
Industry safety campaigns have consistently drawn attention to the dangers of assuming all areas on a roof are safe. The condition of rooflights and other elements may change over time. Weathering, corrosion, impact damage and pollutants can lead to previously non-fragile materials becoming fragile, the Association said.
Mark Wilcox stated that fragility is "not always obvious" and emphasised the need to treat any rooflight or roof element with unknown performance as fragile. He said confirmation from a competent person is required before walking on a roof, but this does not remove the legal requirement for a safe system of work.
What people are saying
Wilcox, in his remarks published by Roofing Today, reiterated the need for a change in working culture. He supports the campaign’s message that all roof workers should avoid assuming a roof is safe to walk on without appropriate checks. The campaign urges planners and contractors to assess risks before access, plan work, prioritise collective protection, control rooflight risks and use personal protection like harnesses.
Wilcox added that the Association’s support for the 'Cut the Dust' campaign is designed to promote wider understanding of mental and physical health risks in roofing. He stressed that dust generated from cutting roofing materials can have long-term health effects, and that asbestos is not the only danger. The 'Cut the Dust' campaign provides guidance on controlling exposure, including engineering controls and personal protective equipment.
The RA is encouraging its members and companies in the roofing supply chain to use available resources from both campaigns and reinforce safe working practices during planning and job execution.
What happens next
The Association is distributing campaign resources to its membership and the wider industry, aiming to reinforce the correct specification, installation and maintenance of rooflight systems. It encourages attention to the entire roof system and ongoing maintenance to maintain non-fragility for the intended service life.
The RA said its members, their customers and all parties in the roofing supply chain should ensure safe working culture around both fragility and dust hazards. The Association is directing industry professionals to information resources provided by the NFRC and to updated guidance on rooflight safety.
The RA’s continued involvement with the Advisory Committee for Roofsafety indicates an ongoing commitment to influencing sector best practice. Roofing companies are expected to revisit their procedures on fragile roof work, risk assessment and dust control in response to the publicity around these campaigns.