SAFETY TOPICS

Skylight Safety Precautions

If you work in construction, chances are you’ve encountered skylights on several occasions. While these architectural features can add sophistication to a building’s design, skylights are also an often-overlooked safety risk. Skylights can pose serious fall hazard that can result in workplace injuries and fatalities.¹ Read on for ways to protect workers and check out the OSHA website for more skylight safety standards.²

Precautions for workers

Workers should take the following steps to protect themselves from falls through skylights and roof and floor openings:³

Never sit on, lean against, or step on a skylight or any covering placed over a hole in a roof or floor.
Guard or securely cover all holes you have created or uncovered before you leave the work area.
Always use a personal fall arrest system that includes a full-body harness, lanyard, connectors, and appropriate anchorage points (tie-offs)
If you use a personal fall arrest system, inspect it daily and report any damage or deficiencies to your supervisor

Precautions for employers

Employers should take the following measures to help prevent worker injuries and fatalities from falls through skylights and roof and floor openings:³

Conduct periodic scheduled and unscheduled inspections to ensure that the fall prevention system is used and maintained correctly
Train workers to recognize fall hazards associated with working near skylights and roof and floor openings
Develop, implement, and enforce a written fall prevention plan that complies with applicable OSHA fall prevention standards
Assign a competent person to inspect the worksite before work begins to identify fall hazards
Use personal fall arrest systems or covers to protect workers

Personal fall arrest systems

For personal fall arrest systems to be effective, they must follow these OSHA standards:²

A personal fall arrest system consists of an anchor, a harness, and a lifeline or lanyard
Fall arrest systems must be designed and set up to prevent a worker from free falling more than 6 feet or contacting a lower level (29 CFR 1926.502(d)(16)(iii))
Body belts are not acceptable because they can cause serious injury during a fall (29 CFR 1926.502(d))
The anchorage for a fall arrest system must be capable of supporting 5,000 pounds per worker attached or be designed, installed, and used under the supervision of a qualified person (29 CFR 1926.502(d)(15))

Cover method

If employers choose to use the cover method, the cover must:²

Be capable of supporting at least twice the weight of employees, equipment, and materials that may be imposed on the cover at any one time 29 C.F.R. § 1926.502(i)(2) (2022)
Be secured when installed to prevent accidental displacement by the wind, equipment, or employees 29 C.F.R. § 1926.502(i)(3) (2022)
Be color coded or marked with the word “HOLE” or “COVER” to provide warning of the hazard 29 C.F.R. § 1926.502(i)(4) (2022)

Online safety training videos

Our policyholders and agents have access to an extensive library of safety training videos. To access training videos on skylight safety, click here and enter your username and password. Type Skylight Safety in the search bar for the available videos. Policyholders and agents can request login credentials by emailing [email protected]. (Videos provided through JER HR Group LLC, dba Training Network, a Summit vendor.)

If you would like additional resources, please contact your Summit loss prevention consultant.

Footnotes

“Skylight Guarding Solutions (E-Brochure).” Safety Rail Company, LLC, safetyrailcompany.com/product-category/rooftop-access-guarding/skylight-guarding/ (Accessed Jan. 21, 2022).
“Safety and Health Regulations for Construction.” Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Depart. of Labor, www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/ (Accessed Jan. 21, 2022).
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Preventing Falls of Workers through Skylights and Rood and Floor Openings, Dept. of Health and Human Serv., Aug. 2004, www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-156/pdfs (Accessed Jan. 21, 2022).

Disclaimer

The information presented in this publication is intended to provide guidance and is not intended as a legal interpretation of any federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations applicable to your business. The loss prevention information provided is intended only to assist policyholders of Summit managed insurers in the management of potential loss producing conditions involving their premises and/or operations based on generally accepted safe practices. In providing such information, Summit Consulting LLC does not warrant that all potential hazards or conditions have been evaluated or can be controlled. It is not intended as an offer to write insurance for such conditions or exposures. The liability of Summit Consulting LLC and its managed insurers is limited to the terms, limits and conditions of the insurance policies underwritten by any of them.