FALLS FROM ROOFS  RISKS

AND PREVENTION
The Problem for Construction Workers  Protect workers from falling into or through roof
holes or openings such as skylights by using covers,
Falls are the leading cause of injuries and fatalities in the PFAS, or guardrails.
construction industry, accounting for one-third of all
on-the-job deaths.1 Falls from roofs are a main cause of  Develop a written site-specific fall protection plan if
these deaths. One study found that over an 18-year period, conventional fall protection equipment (guardrails,
one-third of fatal falls in construction were falls from safety nets, or PFAS) is not feasible or would create a
roofs.2 In 2016, 123 workers died from falls from roofs and greater hazard to use. This option is only available to
an additional 1,580 were injured.3 employees engaged in leading edge work, precast
concrete erection, or residential construction.
Factors that contribute to falls from roofs include
unprotected roof edges, unguarded roof openings such as CPWR Research and Resources
skylights, roof collapses, and leading edges. Without fall
protection, these falls can result in serious injury or death.4  Fall Protection Harnesses Hazard Alert Card  a
In fact, the absence of fall protection is the most frequently brief, image-driven handout to help workers
cited workplace violation by the Occupational Safety and understand how to use fall protection harnesses
Health Administration (OSHA).1 properly. Available in English and Spanish.
 Toolbox Talks  short discussion guides for use by
Injuries and Fatalities are Preventable foremen or supervisors to raise worker awareness
and discuss site-specific actions to prevent a fall from
In 2015, OSHA published Protecting Roofing Workers,
a roof.
which describes employer requirements for preventing
roofing injuries and death. There are a number of  Preventing Falls Through Holes  Available in
standards, but in general, OSHA requires employers to5: English and Spanish
 Preventing Falls From Rooftops  Available in
 Assess the worksite to determine if work surfaces have
the strength and structural integrity to safely support English and Spanish
workers.  Roof Collapse  Available in English and Spanish
 Train their employees to work safely at heights.  Roofs Topic Page on stopconstructionfalls.com, a
Owners, supervisors, and foremen should make sure website dedicated to preventing falls in construction.
that they are well informed on fall risks and safety  Infographics –
procedures.
 Preventing Falls Through Skylights and Holes 
 Provide workers with fall protection equipment Available in English and Spanish
(personal fall arrest systems [PFAS], guardrails, or
 Fall Protection Saves Lives  Available in English
safety nets) that meets OSHA requirements whenever
and Spanish
they work 6 feet or more above a lower level.
Employers must also ensure that the fall protection is  How High is Deadly?  Available in English and
in good condition, and is being used properly. Spanish
 Fatality Map – interactive map showing fall fatalities
 Have a plan for rescuing workers in the event of a fall.
across the nation, including ones associated with
 Keep the worksite clear of debris to prevent tripping roofs.
hazards that can lead to falls.  Studies –
 Protect workers from electrical hazards by  Fall Protection Resources for New Home
de-energizing the circuits, grounding, or by guarding Construction
them effectively through insulation. If working near  Using Social Media to Inform Latino Construction
power lines, workers should be kept at least 10 feet Workers about Fall Protection
away, and the power company should de-energize and
 Fatal Falls from Roofs Among U.S. Construction
ground them.
Workers
Other Resources References
 Fall Protection Resource for New Home Construction  1Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA],
a catalog of fall protection equipment for residential 2017. Commonly Used Statistics. https://www.osha.gov/
construction. oshstats/commonstats.html
 Fall Protection in Construction  OSHA, 2015 2
Dong, X.S., Choi, S.D., Borchardt, J.G., Wang, X., Largay,
J.A. (2013). Fatal falls from roofs among U.S. construction
 Installing Standing Seam Metal Roofs  OSHA Fact
workers. Journal of Safety Research, 44, 17–24. http://
Sheet, 2012 (Also available in Spanish)
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/
 Re-Roofing  OSHA Fact Sheet, 2012 (Also available in S0022437512001247
Spanish) 3
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Census of Fatal
 Installing Roof Trusses  OSHA Fact Sheet, 2011 (Also Occupational Injuries (CFOI) - Current and Revised Data.
available in Spanish) https://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm. Accessed March 16,
2018. The data is for the private sector construction
 Installing Tile Roofs  OSHA Fact Sheet, 2011 (Also
industry.
available in Spanish)
4
 Roof Repair  OSHA Fact Sheet, 2011 (Also available in OSHA, 2011. Construction Focus Four: Fall Hazards.
Spanish) https://www.osha.gov/dte/outreach/construction/
focus_four/falls/falls_ig.pdf
 Roof Sheathing  OSHA Fact Sheet, 2012 (Also 5
OSHA, 2015. Protecting Roofing Workers. https://
available in Spanish)
www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3755.pdf
 Roof Tarping  OSHA Fact Sheet, 2017

About CPWR
CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training
[CPWR] is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to reducing
injuries, illnesses, and fatalities in construction, and
currently serves as NIOSH’s National Construction Center.
Through research, training, and service programs, CPWR
works in partnership with industry stakeholders, safety and
health professionals, academics, and key government
agencies, to identify and find solutions for occupational
hazards and improve the safety and health of construction
workers. For more information, please visit:
www.CPWR.com

©2018 CPWR–The Center for Construction Research and Training. All rights reserved. CPWR is the research and training arm of
NABTU. Production of this document was supported by cooperative agreement OH 009762 from the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily
represent the official views of NIOSH.