Safety & Skylights
Staying Aware of the Danger When Working with Skylights
by Randy Fernandez, Director of Enterprise Accounts, Guardian
(Editor’s Note: Randy Fernandez has been involved with promoting industrial safety for more than 25 years and has been at Guardian since 2020. Fernandez holds degrees from Boise State University and the University of Central Florida, and he uses his experience to educate others on the importance of fall protection. He additionally holds the position of Co-Chair of the Associate Advisory Council for the Western States Roofing Contractors Association.)
Roofing is a dangerous industry, but extra hazards can lead to extra falls on the jobsite. Skylights represent one of the leading causes of fatal falls in roofing work. If you are an active member of the roofing industry, it is important to stay on top of the OSHA-compliant protection methods and best safety practices when working on commercial or residential roofs where skylights exist.
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.502 and 1926.500, which focus on fall protection systems, require protection for workers exposed to fall hazards at or above six feet in construction. Under 1926.503, safety training must cover recognition of skylight hazards, proper use of protection systems, and rescue procedures.
Skylights are classified as hole/opening hazards and must be covered or guarded. Protecting every skylight with a compliant system is not only important for team safety but also for legal regulations. Compliant systems include: covers that must support two times the maximum intended load, be secured against displacement, and be properly marked; guardrails with a top rail and mid rail capable of withstanding 200 pounds of force; Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS) with a harness and lanyard/self-retracting lifeline that includes an anchor rated to 5000 pound safety factor per worker; safety nets installed as close as possible beneath the work surface, no more than 30 feet below; warning lines; or monitoring systems with a qualified safety monitor that is maintaining visual contact and warning workers of hazards. Which of these systems to use depends on the slope of the roof, the height of the worksite, and many other safety conditions, so you must know what rules are applicable to your jobsite.
For skylights specifically, there are protection options that can be directly secured to the light to ensure a team member doesn’t fall on, through, or from any part of the skylight. For example, rigid metal screens or bars can be installed over the skylight frame. They must be rated to support total intended load including worker weight, tools, equipment, etc., and they should be thoroughly inspected before each use.
OSHA compliant screens or covers are another option, such as plywood, special netting, or metal covers that are properly secured with screws and labeled. Do not use materials that can be mistaken for the roof surface. Installing permanent or temporary guardrail perimeters around each skylight during any roofing work is also an option, and it is typically the best choice for for residential projects. When any other control system isn’t feasible, that is when you should be looking into PFAS/Harness Systems. Conduct daily equipment inspections prior to use on the anchor, connector, and harness.
The best way to ensure that your team stays safe is to be over-prepared. Conduct a pre-job hazard assessment-identify and mark every skylight before work begins. Implement a protect before you proceed rule: no worker may work near a skylight until protection is confirmed in place. Never walk on or near skylight-aged or plastic-domed skylights as they may not support any weight. Integrate skylights into the fall-rescue plan for each specific site so that crews know exactly how to respond within minutes. Skylights are not windows: they are fall hazards. Treat them with the same respect as any roof opening or hole. Ensure all workers complete OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 fall protection training before rooftop assignments. Use a buddy system on residential jobs where solo work near skylights would otherwise occur. Document all skylight locations in the Site Safety Plan and conduct toolbox talks at each job start. In the roofing industry, skylights can present a unique danger that not all crews are familiar with. Following these tips can save lives.
