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Definition of fragile

roof

A fragile roof is a one


that dose not safely
support the weight of
a person and any
load he/she is
carrying.
A fragile roofing
materials fracture
without worning
Case study- Fall through fragile roofs
Accident Example 1
A person died five days after falling through a
fragile roof. He was cleaning and inspecting
asbestos cement sheets. The roof gave way under
weight and he fell nearly 3 m on to a concrete floor,
suffering injuries to his head.
Accident Example 2
A worker died after falling 4 m through a roof of
building. He was using a single scaffold board to
walk on the roof and had been standing on this
while he cut a way some damaged fiber cement roof
sheets. As he stood up on the board after cutting
the sheet he lost his balance and fell backwards
through the roof to the concrete floor below.
Case study- Fall through fragile roofs
Accident Example 3

A warehouse supervisor suffered severe head


Injuries and was unable to return to work after
falling nearly 6 m onto the concrete floor. He
was inspecting roof to see which bit needed to
be repaired when one of the plastic panels
fractured.
His employer was fined $ 13000 for failing to
protect the health and safety of their workers,
particularly for failing to prevent employee
gaining access to the roof.
Accident Example 4
An employee of a wood panel manufacturer
suffered severe Back injuries when he fell 11.5 m
through a hole in the factory roof. He was on the
factory roof to collect wood Debris deposit it
down a chute. To gain access to the chute He had
to pass along a cordon off area where two holes
had been made in the roof in preparation for
installation of a new extractor unit. One of these
hole had been left open, other covered by an
insulating board. During one trip through
cordoned off area he stood on the hole covered
by insulated board; it broke under his weight and
he fell. His employer was fined $12000 for
breaches of health and safety legislation.
MFR Rule 73-F prescribed under section 41 of
Factory Act 1948.

Fragile Roof-Provision of crawling board etc.


In any factory no person shall be required to
stand or pass over or work on near any roof or
ceiling covered with a fragile material like A. C.
sheet or similar material through which he is
liable to fall, in case of breaks or given away in
distance of more than three meters unless-

a) Suitable and sufficient ladder, duck ladder or


crawling boards, which shall be secularly
supported, are provided and used; and
b) Permit to work on fragile roof is issued
to him each time he is required and
work thereon by responsible person of
factory concerned

Explanation:-
Fragile material means sheet made
of asbestos cement or made from
similar material such as Perspex,
polyester or other type of plastic
fibers.
The BOCW Central Rules, 1998
Chapter XIV-CONST., REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE
OF STEEP ROOF
Rule No.171: Crawling board
Ensure that-
a)All crawling board are of adequate strength, of
sound material, and of type approved for the
work as per relevant national standard (Not
available)
b) The above boards should be in good repairs
and inspected regularly
c) They should be secured with effective means
d) A firmly fastened rope lifeline of adequate
strength is strung besides each board
Rule 178: Safety belt and its use
Ensure that-
a) Safety belt, life line and devices for the
attachment conform to the relevant national
standard (IS 3521: 1999)

b) Every worker is given safety belt, lifeline for


his protection and he uses it.

c) All workers have knowledge of safe use,


maintenance of such belts and are given the
necessary instructions
d) The responsible person supervises, inspects
such belts and are fit for use.
Man is removing
Fragile roof
Net is fixed below roof

Edge is protected from sliding


Crawling board is
used

Mobile platform is
Used for working
on roof
Safety mesh on the roof

A person putting safety mesh on


the roof
Safety belt
are used on
the roof
Fragility of roof is depends on
following factors:

1) Thickness of material

2) Span between the supports

3) Sheet profile

4) The design of support structure


5) The type, number, position
and quality of fixture

6) The age of material on roof

7) The weather and other


conditions( like chemical fumes
etc.) to which the sheets are
exposed.
It is therefore very important to
conform fragility of roof before the
work starts. If there is a any doubt
the roof should be treated as
Fragile unless or until conformed
that is not.
It is POSITIVELY DANGERIOUS to
assume that a roof is non-fragile
with out checking this beforehand.
Some facts about fragile roof
1. Fragile roofs are dangerous as they can breaks at
any time without notice when a person steps on it.

2. Merely by appearance, it is not possible to detect


a cracked or broken sheet.

3. There no fragile sheet any where in the world


which can not break.

4. Accidents with fragile roofs are generally 99 %


fetal.

5. Victims are generally the persons engaged in


short duration maintenance or cleaning
6. The person on the roof can not visualize
the depth of height while working on it.

7. Every fragile roof accident can be prevented.

8. There can not be an accident if person dose not


step on roof accidentally or deliberately

9. Fragile sheets shatter and break without


warning under a persons weight.

10. Walking on line of bolts( used for fixing the


sheets to purlin) is not safe as in reality this is
line walking on a Tightrope
Major known reasons for fragile roof accidents

a) Stepping directly on sheet


b) Loosing balance and accident
falling/stepping on fragile sheet while
walking along the purlin
c) Falling/stepping on roof while
changing/moving the cat ladders
d) Sliding on ( improperly supported) cat
ladder and person falling/stepping on roof
e) Falling from edge of the roof
f) Falling through gaps or holes of the roof
g) Falling through the fragile roof lights even
though remaining roof is non-fragile
Method for prevention of accidents

a) Ensure all the time that no person steps


on fragile roof

b)Find out if you can avoid going on fragile roof

c) Asses the risk and then take action

d)Do not send any person on the roof unless he


is trained in the work

e) Display a board of caution near the access


ladder to the roof
Method for prevention of accidents

f) Provide secure means of access and


exit from the roof

g) Provide a edge protection ( Main


guard rail 910 mm above the edge,
toe board at least 150 mm high and
intermediate guard rail

h) Provide a cat ladder, anchorage, life


line and safety belt
Method for prevention of accidents

i) If possible traveling cat ladder to avoid


person stepping on roof directly

j) Prevent unauthorized entry to fragile


roof
1) Using work permit system
2) Locking entry to roof access ladder

k) Do not allow any body to work on fragile


roof unless all the safety measures are
taken and confirmed by person
authorized by company for the work
Method for prevention of accidents

L) Make provision of life line and anchorage


point for the purpose of using with a
safety belt

m) Never allow a person to walk along with


the line of bolts of purlin

n) Ensure that the no. of cat walk ladders


issued to each person on the roof is
enough. There must be at least 3 ladders
available to each person on the roof
Safety precaution to be taken while
working Near a fragile roof

Protection is needed when anyone passes


or works nearer than 2meters to fragile
material/roof e.g.

a. During access along valley gutters in a


fragile roof

b.When fragile roof lights or smoke vents


are contained in an otherwise non-fragile
roof
Protection is needed when anyone
passes or works nearer than 2meters
to fragile material/roof e.g.

c. During access to work areas on a


fragile roof

d. Provide full edge protection ( top


rail, intermediate rail and toe board)
along the fragile roof to prevent
acess to it
( take all precautions while installing
the protection )
Associated accidents with roof work
Material falling from the edge of the roof
after sliding
Falling of hot tar on the person below
Material falling through the roof after impact
by throwing by person

Precaution to be taken to avoid abovementioned


accidents
1. Do not allow
a) Throwing tools on the roof
b) Running on roof
c) Storing/keeping hot tar near edge
d) Bending/leaning over the hole in a roof for
any work / communication
2. Ensure that all the persons on ground
involving in passing the container of hot tar
upwards, use all the
P.P.Es mention below:
a) Helmet b) Face shield c) Apron d) Rubber
hand gloves e) Gumboots

3. Ensure that the hook and the rope used


for taking material (tar container) upwards
are strong and proper

4. Ensure that method of taking fragile sheet


or glass sheet upward is safe and approved
General safety instructions for working on fragile
Roof:
I. Do not step on any sheet without obtaining
safety training
II. Before starting work ( before climbing on the
access ladder ) ensure that the supervisor is
available at site and he has got the work permit
issued by the authorized person
III. Used suitable and sufficient access ladder, cat
ladder, crawling board etc. and fix them properly
on the roof. Do not use damage/unsuitable
ladders. Do not use makeshift arrangement
IV. Use safety belts and anchor them properly with
the anchorage points on the roof or to the life
line available on the roof
V. Never step directly on any part of roof
always walk or step only on ladders

VI. It is not safe anytime to walk on purlin.


Do avoid it.

VII. Do not run on the roof

VIII. Do not cut any sheet on the roof

IX It is necessary to walk on ladders ( and not


on roof directly ) while transporting the
sheets on the roof
X. While working on the roof, ensure that no
loose items are dropped down

XI. Always used suitable and strong ropes for


taking sheets from ground to roof

XII. Never leave any loose items (tools, cut


sheets, broken sheets) on the roof after
work is over

XIII. Never use any electrical equipment without


proper earting

XV. Ensure sufficient illumination while you are


working on the roof
So please avoid these fetal
Accidents

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