Fragile Roofs & Falls Through Surfaces

Some of the deadliest falls aren’t off an edge but straight through the surface you’re standing on: a skylight, a sun-faded plastic panel, an old cement roof sheet or a rotten deck. Workers die this way every year, often on short maintenance jobs.

• Construction
• General Industry
• Roofers
• HVAC & maintenance

Surfaces that can give way

• Skylights, including domed plastic ones that look sturdy
• Plastic or fiberglass roof panels (clear or translucent panels on metal buildings), which get brittle in sunlight
• Corrugated cement or asbestos-cement sheets on older industrial and farm buildings
• Old or rusted metal roofs, especially between purlins
• Rotted roof decking or soft spots from leaks
• Drop ceilings and drywall ceilings when working in attics and above ceilings
• Hole covers that are too weak or not secured, or that were moved
• Solar panels and their glass, which aren’t made to walk on

The rules

• In construction, skylights and other holes are treated as holes: workers must be protected by covers, guardrails or personal fall arrest when there’s a fall of 6 feet or more. See Holes & Floor Openings.
• Covers must support at least twice the weight of workers, equipment and materials that could be on them, be secured so they can’t move, and be marked “HOLE” or “COVER.”
• In general industry, skylights must have screens, guardrails or covers, or workers must use fall protection, when they’re 4 feet or more above a lower level.

How to work safely

• Assume every roof is fragile until someone who knows the building says otherwise.
• Plan the route to rooftop units, and mark or build walkways that avoid skylights and panels.
• Cover or screen skylights before work starts, or guardrail them.
• Use crawling boards or platforms spanning across supports on fragile roofs.
• Walk only on the purlins or fastener lines of metal roofs if you must cross, and tie off.
• In attics, step only on joists or on boards laid across them.
• Use a personal fall arrest system anchored to the structure when you can’t keep away from fragile areas.
• Never sit or lean on a skylight, or put tools or materials on one.

Before going on a roof

• Do we know where every skylight, panel and weak spot is?
• Are skylights covered, screened or guarded?
• Is there a safe, marked route to the work?
• Is fall protection set up, with anchors on the structure?
• Is the roof wet, icy or covered with snow that hides openings?
• Does anyone know we’re up there, and is there a rescue plan?

Older cement roof sheets may contain asbestos. Don’t break, drill or walk on them without checking first. See Asbestos.

Last updated: October 2, 2026