What Building Occupiers, Owners and Managing Agents Need to Know About Their Responsibilities for Fragile Roofs

摘要

Last year, RIDBA produced a Guidance Note on Fragile Roofs and following the article from the last edition on safe working in agriculture, highlighting falls from height as one of the top causes of fatal injuries in agriculture, here is a timely reminder. 1.1 A roof must be considered fragile if it, or the materials forming it, will not take a person's weight. 1.2 This includes, old roof lights (possibly over painted), fibre and asbestos cement sheets, old or thin metal sheets, all glass panels, slates, and tiles in poor condition. 1.3 If you are unsure then you must always treat a roof as though it is a fragile roof. 2.1 Assume any roof is fragile unless you can prove it is not. 2.2 Do not go onto a roof or allow anyone else onto the roof without the correct training, experience, and suitable safety equipment. 2.3 Engage a specialist roofing company who have the training, experience, and correct equipment to access the roof safely. The RIDBA website ridba.org.uk offers a direct link to such specialists near you. 2.4 Tasks such as clearing low level gutters, and unblocking downpipes can be done from the ground level, from a Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP) or, for very short duration work (30 mins max), a properly secured, footed and tied-off well-maintained ladder. 2.5 Ultimately, it is your responsibility to ensure that only fully trained and experienced people who understand the risks go onto a roof of any type and only then with suitable safety equipment for the task.