Worker killed in skylight fall

In February 2018, a worker was killed after falling five metres onto a concrete floor. Early investigations indicate the worker was attending to a radio tower on the roof of a storage shed when a skylight has collapsed and he fell through to the floor below. Investigations are continuing.

Preventing a similar incident

This incident highlights the risk of working on or near fragile roof surfaces. Roofs are likely to be fragile if they are made with:

• asbestos roofing sheets
• polycarbonate or plastic commonly used in skylights
• roof lights, particularly those in the roof plane that can be difficult to see in certain light conditions or when hidden by paint
• fibre cement sheets
• liner panels on built-up sheeted roofs
• metal sheets and fasteners where corroded
• glass, including wired glass
• chipboard or similar material where rotted
• wood slabs, slates and tiles.

Processes must be in place to identify all fragile materials before any roof work commences. Protection must be provided if there is a risk of falling through the roof and work is being done on the top of the roof. Control measures to prevent injury from work on fragile roofs are similar to methods used for roof work more generally, including using:

• an elevating work platform so workers can avoid standing on the roof itself
• barriers such as guard rails or covers that are secured and labelled with a warning
• guard rails fitted to all work and access staging or platforms
• walkways or crawl boards of a suitable size and strength
• staging on the roof surface to spread the loads
• safety mesh secured under fragile roofing or skylights. If safety mesh is used, ensure it:
  • conforms to AS/NZS 4389:2015 Roof safety mesh
  • is installed by a competent person in a safe manner and in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions
  • has its integrity inspected by a competent person prior to roof maintenance or removal
  • is covered by the roof cladding as soon as reasonably practicable after it has been installed
• a harness system with adequate anchorage points, along with appropriate training and supervision. Wearing harnesses creates a trip hazard, so workers must take extra care with them. Training should include how to rescue someone who falls while using a fall arrest system
• permanent warning signs at every likely access point to the roof warning of the presence of fragile roofing materials.

Statistics

Every year there are more than 3200 accepted workers' compensation claims involving a worker falling from a height. Of these claims, 54 per cent are a serious injury with five or more days off work, and three are for a fatality.

Since 2012, we have issued 2153 prohibition notices, 1832 improvement notices and 47 infringement notices for issues pertaining to falls from heights or the risk of working at heights.

Prosecutions and compliance

Since 2012 there have been 33 prosecutions involving falls, five of these where workers fell from a roof, one where a worker fell through an unprotected skylight and four which were for risk-based incidents involving no injury.

There are another 15 matters before the court, four of these which are Queensland's first Category 1 charges. The four defendants facing these charges have had a second complaint lodged against them for another incident at the same worksite where a worker was killed after falling from heights. The Category 1 charges can include fines of up to $600,000 and maximum jail terms of five years for individuals, and fines up to $3 million for corporations.

More Information

• Work at heights
• Managing the risk of falls at workplaces Code of Practice 2021 (PDF, 3.9 MB)
• Incident Alert: Serious falls from height at the Gold Coast

Support for people affected by a serious workplace incident

Have you been affected by a workplace fatality, illness or serious injury? For advice and support, visit our Facebook page or email ohs.coronialliaison@oir.qld.gov.au.