SafeWork SA issues fragile roof safety alert
Following two separate incidents that resulted in serious injuries and could have been fatal, SafeWork SA has issued a reminder to building owners and contractors about the importance of managing risk of falls. The first incident occurred when a contractor was inspecting anchor points on the roof and fell backwards through an unprotected skylight, falling 4.6 m and sustaining multiple fractures. The second incident occurred when a worker fell through poly sheeting, falling 4.6 m onto a concrete floor below.
Both cases follow similar incidents in December 2019 where a worker was fatally injured and in January 2020, when another worker was seriously injured. These incidents have prompted SafeWork SA to issue a safety alert to businesses and workers about managing the risk of fall from a fragile roof.
The two further incidents had the potential to be more serious, and SafeWork SA has reminded businesses to be alert to the hazards and risks involved with fragile roof material and ensure that controls are in place to eliminate the risk. Businesses and workers are encouraged to visit SafeWork SA’s fragile roofing page for information on risk management controls. SafeWork SA has also provided a four-part educational video series on managing risk of falls.
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