Skylight Safety Considerations for Commercial Roofers: Prevent Falls and Accidents

526 & 546 Bryne Drive, Barre

What are skylight safety considerations, and why do they matter? The reason is simple. Most skylights aren’t designed to support the weight of a person. They are a top roofing fall risk in the roofing industry, contributing to a substantial number of injuries, and even fatalities. And skylight fall incidents are totally preventable. 

You may wonder how to include skylight safety considerations in relevant commercial roofing projects. Start by making skylight safety your #1 priority when removing, replacing, installing or working near skylights. There may be several safety options that meet the relevant Ontario Building Codes. The question is how to meet building codes, project requirements, and skylight safety issues when working on skylights on existing or new buildings.

Here’s an example of our skylight safety considerations for a project in Barre, Ontario.

Challenge: Skylight Safety Considerations in Barre.

Skylight safety considerations were a focal point of our roofing project at 526 & 546 Bryne Drive. The statement of work (SOW) required removing and replacing a total of 48 skylights on two adjacent buildings. We needed to accomplish this in a cost-effective, practical way. A significant consideration was how to safely eliminate hazards to protect workers and prevent roofing material from falling into the finished office areas below.

Solution: Skylight Safety Considerations, Watertightness and Cost-Effectiveness 

Elite’s skylight safety considerations were part of our planning process, addressing skylight safety while meeting other project requirements.

• Including costs and materials for skylight safety in our quote
• Discussing skylight safety with the project team as part of the bid process
• Checking on skylight safety as part of our pre-installation checklist and during the pre-installation walk
• Covering the skylight openings with adequately sized cut pieces of plywood, attaching them with Blueskin—a self-adhering barrier SBS-modified asphalt membrane compound that is impermeable to air, moisture vapor, and water.   
• Coordinating the delivery of new skylight domes and other materials to the roof without extra craning costs
• Installing membrane upturns around the skylights for complete water tightness.

Is preparing for skylight safety costly?

Do skylight safety considerations add to the cost of a commercial roofing project? Not significantly.  It is certainly not a reason to avoid the installation of skylights on your property, especially when you consider the benefits. Tenants enjoy a bright space that feels more open. Landlords can benefit from improved ventilation and enhanced aesthetics.

However, not following safety regulations can rack up significant costs. In addition to injuries, consequences can include fines, liability, and reputation. That’s why skylight safety considerations can’t be an afterthought, but rather part of the earliest planning stages.

Don’t skimp with skylight safety

An optimal skylight safety solution for a particular situation may not be the least expensive. Even if an inexpensive method provides safety, meets code and ensures watertightness, there will be other considerations.

Think about the impact of roofing. Tenants need to be safe and comfortable. Visitors need adequate parking. Businesses need to maintain operations. Roofers must find the right balance when looking at how safety precautions affect noise, dust, odour and other unpleasant issues. Cost, comfort, and convenience all matter, but never at the expense of safety.

In this example, we ensured worker safety and tenant safety using practical, cost-effective methods. While daylight inside the building was temporarily reduced, this minor inconvenience allowed us to meet the project objectives and criteria, without sacrificing safety. 

Get The Elite Advantage

By adhering to these safety measures, the roofing industry can significantly reduce the risk of injuries and fatalities associated with skylights. Elite’s difference is in the details. We are known for developing innovative, custom skylight safety solutions for unique situations.