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Don't Fall for Fragile

The roofing industry has made real progress in preventing falls from height. But fragile roofs remain one of the most serious and persistent risks in roofing. A fragile roof can fail without warning. One wrong step can lead to life-changing injury or death.

Don’t Fall for Fragile: Step Back and Plan

Falls from height are the leading cause of fatality in the UK workplace, particularly within roofing. According to the Health & Safety Executive, fragile roofs account for 22% of all fall from height fatal injuries in the construction industry. Fragile roofs aren't always easy to identify, but the damage can be permanent, if not fatal. Don't Fall for Fragile is a campaign that sets out the steps to take to prevent and eliminate this risk.

Step back and plan-logo.png
NFRC resources and guidance 
Working at Height Health and Safety Guidance Toolbox Talk Campaign flyer Health and Safety Guidance

If you don’t know it’s safe, treat it as fragile.

Fragile roofs are not always obvious. A roof may look solid, but still be unable to safely support a person or the impact of a fall.

Fragile roof risks include:

  • Rooflights, domes and skylights
  • Fibre cement sheets
  • Corroded or damaged metal sheets
  • Liner panels and internal gutters
  • Woodwool slabs and older roof decks
  • Coated, overlaid or weathered roof surfaces
  • Hidden weak areas beneath coverings or repairs

 

 

If a roof surface, assembly or element is liable to fail under the weight of a person or under impact, it must be treated as fragile.

Don’t Fall for Fragile is an NFRC industry-led campaign to help contractors, clients, designers and building owners identify fragile roof risks early, plan work properly and stop unsafe shortcuts before someone gets hurt. Because fragile roofs do not forgive mistakes.

This Campaign Is Not About Paperwork. It Is About Planning.

Too many fragile roof incidents happen because people assume the roof is safe, rely on experience, or accept the cheapest access solution without properly considering the risk.

Don’t Fall for Fragile is about changing that mindset.

Before anyone steps onto or near a fragile roof, the work must be properly planned, the roof condition understood, and the right access and fall prevention measures put in place.

The message is simple: Don’t step through. Step back and plan.

 

The Industry Can Do Better

Fragile roof incidents are preventable, but prevention requires early planning, visible leadership and a willingness to challenge unsafe assumptions. We should not accept people walking onto roofs without knowing whether the surface can support them.

Clients, designers and contractors all have a role to play. The safest solution is rarely found after work has already started on the roof.

Fragile-roof

This image shows an example of a fragile roof and how it can be difficult to spot the risk. The roof lights are so discoloured by UV, that unless you know where they are, it's difficult to see them.

 

Don't Fall for Fragile: Pledge Support

Any organisation can pledge support for the Don’t Fall for Fragile campaign.

By pledging support, you are confirming that your organisation understands the risks associated with fragile roofs and is committed to promoting safer planning, access and working practices across its workforce and supply chain.

Pledge Form

The campaign calls on roofing contractors, principal contractors, clients, designers and building owners to commit to:

  • Identifying fragile roof risks before work starts
  • Treating rooflights and suspect materials as fragile unless proven otherwise
  • Planning safe access, egress and rescue arrangements
  • Using collective protection first wherever reasonably practicable
  • Challenging unsafe shortcuts and poor planning
  • Making fragile roof awareness part of everyday roofing culture

These are not complex ideas. They are practical, achievable and effective. The difference is whether they are applied consistently.


Pledge

We commit to Don’t Fall for Fragile — Step Back and Plan. By signing this pledge, we agree to:

  • Identify Fragile Risks: assume suspect roof areas are fragile unless confirmed otherwise.
  • Plan Before Access: no work on or near fragile roofs without suitable planning.
  • Use Collective Protection First: prioritise safe platforms, edge protection, coverings, guardrails and other collective measures.
  • Control Rooflight Risk: treat rooflights as fragile unless protected or proven otherwise.
  • Use Harnesses Correctly: only where suitable, properly designed, anchored, adjusted and supervised.
  • Train and Challenge: ensure teams understand fragile roof risks and challenge unsafe shortcuts.

We will only use your details to keep you up to date on Don't Fall for Fragile information.

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Further reading