Safe Working at Height on a Fragile Roof
You are asked to inspect and repair a leaking flat roof on a 1970s industrial building. The roof is a built-up felt system over a profiled metal deck. The roof is 15 m high, with a 30° pitch on one side and a flat section on the other. Access is via a fixed ladder that terminates 2 m below the eaves. There is no edge protection. The building is occupied, and the client wants the work done quickly. The weather is dry but windy, with gusts up to 25 mph. You have a team of two operatives. The roof has several skylights that are not protected. The leak is near a valley gutter.
1. Identify the hazards and explain how you would plan the work to comply with health and safety regulations.
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Hazards: (1) Work at height: 15 m fall risk from the ladder, eaves, and skylights. (2) Fragile roof: Skylights and potentially the metal deck may be fragile. (3) Weather: Wind gusts can affect balance and material handling. (4) Access: Fixed ladder ends 2 m below eaves, requiring an unsafe transition. (5) No edge protection: Fall hazard at roof edges. (6) Occupied building: Falling objects could injure people below. Planning: (1) Risk assessment: Conduct a specific risk assessment for work at height, fragile surfaces, and weather. (2) Access: Provide a safe means of access, e.g., scaffold or mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) to the roof level, or extend the ladder with a proper landing platform and guardrails. (3) Edge protection: Install guardrails or use a fall arrest system with anchor points. (4) Fragile roof: Use crawling boards or staging over the roof, and cover or guard skylights. (5) Weather: Monitor wind speeds; do not work if gusts exceed safe limits for the equipment. (6) Training and supervision: Ensure operatives are trained in work at height and use appropriate PPE. (7) Emergency plan: Have a rescue plan for fall arrest. (8) Permit to work: Implement a permit system. (9) Communication: Coordinate with the client to exclude people from the area below.
2. What specific measures would you take to protect the skylights and prevent falls through the roof?
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Measures for skylights: (1) Cover or guard: Fit proprietary skylight guards or covers that are secured and capable of supporting the weight of a person (or at least 0.75 kN). Alternatively, provide a rigid cover over the skylight. (2) Barriers: Erect guardrails around each skylight at least 1.1 m high with toe boards. (3) Signage: Post warning signs indicating fragile roof and skylights. (4) Crawling boards: Use crawling boards or staging across the roof to distribute weight and avoid direct contact with fragile areas. (5) Fall arrest: If guards are not feasible, use a fall arrest system with a suitable anchor point, but this is a last resort. (6) Inspection: Ensure all protective measures are in place before starting work and inspected regularly. (7) Training: Ensure all operatives are aware of the fragile roof procedure. For the metal deck, assess its load-bearing capacity; if unsure, treat as fragile.