Fall from roof prompts SafeWork SA safety warning

Fall from Roof Prompts SafeWork SA Safety Warning

SafeWork SA is warning workers about serious dangers linked to falls when working on roofs, after an apprentice electrician suffered broken ribs during a fall. Fragile roofing materials may fracture unexpectedly, turning routine rooftop tasks into life-threatening situations without proper safeguards in place.

The apprentice fell 3 metres and landed on a boundary fence during unsafe roof work carried out in December 2022. Falls from heights remain among the most hazardous incidents reported across the construction industry, prompting renewed calls for stronger control measures.

Falls Remain a Leading Cause of Serious Injury

SafeWork SA says falls from height are the leading cause of notifiable serious injury within the construction industry. Rooftop safety failures continue to expose tradespeople to unnecessary risk, particularly where fall prevention systems are absent or poorly maintained.

SafeWork SA acting Executive Director Dini Soulio said law requires an employer to protect workers from falling from height. Employers carry a legal duty to identify hazards, assess risk levels and implement effective controls before any roof-related task begins.

Managing Risk in Construction Environments

Roof edge protection, scaffolding and other physical barriers rank among the most reliable safety tools available to reduce fall risk on construction sites. Where edge protection isn't practical, a scissor lift or similar elevated platform offers a safer alternative for accessing roof areas.

Construction businesses should regularly review site-specific hazards, since fragile roofing materials, weather exposure and unstable surfaces all contribute additional risk during rooftop work. A documented risk control process helps ensure hazardous conditions get addressed before workers step onto a roof.

This isn't an isolated case — similar incidents highlighted in Fall from Scaffolding Triggers Safety Warning reinforce how frequently falls occur across construction industry sites nationwide. Another recent case, Bus Roll-Away Incident Triggers Safety Warning from SafeWork SA, shows SafeWork SA's ongoing focus on workplace incident prevention across multiple industry sectors.

Supporting Compliance Through Documentation

Construction employers seeking to strengthen their safety systems can review an Electrical Safety Policy or utilise an Electrical Safety Checklist to support safer work practices around height-related electrical tasks. Clear Workplace Safety Rules also help set expectations before construction tasks begin.

Businesses managing multiple compliance documents may benefit from Safety Software designed to track hazard identification and risk control processes across construction industry projects. For assistance accessing templates and documentation, visit our Support page.

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