Roof work: Recognize and avoid fall hazards

Working on roofs is among the most dangerous activities in the construction industry. The German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the Construction Industry (BG Bau) warns of falls and falls through roofs – and provides nine vital rules.

This article is part of the special topic of occupational safety in the workplace.

Falls from roofs and falls through unstable structural elements often have serious or even fatal consequences. The extent of the risk is illustrated by figures from the German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the Construction Industry (BG Bau) : In 2025, 41 percent of fatal workplace accidents within the BG Bau's area of ​​responsibility were falls.

Roofs were the most frequent cause of fatal workplace accidents, accounting for 24 percent. During the "Roofing Work" campaign week of the Joint German Occupational Safety and Health Strategy (GDA), running from September 21 to 25, the BG BAU (German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the Construction Industry) is therefore drawing attention to the particular dangers involved. The focus is on how companies can identify and effectively prevent fall and fall-through risks early on.

Photovoltaics increase the importance of safe roof access

With the expansion of photovoltaics, the number of jobs on roofs continues to increase. This involves more than just the installation of the systems. PV systems require monitoring, maintenance, repairs, and cleaning over many years . As a result, rooftops become recurring workplaces. "Photovoltaic systems make a significant contribution to the energy transition. At the same time, they create rooftop jobs that must be safely accessible throughout the system's entire lifespan. Fall protection and fall-through protection should therefore not be an afterthought, but rather an integral part of the planning from the outset," says Björn Kass , Head of Prevention at BG Bau.

Anyone planning or installing photovoltaic systems should therefore consider early on how future maintenance and cleaning work can be carried out safely. This includes safe access and traffic routes as well as suitable protective measures against falls and falls through the floor.

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The risk of falling through is not limited to the roof edge.

The German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the Construction Industry (BG Bau) points out that hazards on roofs are not limited to the roof edges. Particularly risky are roof surfaces and components that are not walkable – such as skylights or rooflights. Workers can break through such components and fall to their deaths. Therefore, roof surfaces must be carefully inspected before work begins: Which areas are safe to walk on? Where are there openings or components that are not walkable? Where are protective measures required?

Safe access routes should be defined before work begins and consistently used throughout the work. This also applies to short tasks, such as checking individual PV modules, minor repairs, or cleaning. Where work can be carried out safely from the ground or another protected work area, access to the roof should be avoided. Technical aids can help to perform certain inspections or cleaning tasks more safely.

Checklist: Nine vital rules for roof work

For safe working on roofs, the BG Bau (German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the Construction Industry) has formulated nine vital rules:

1. Effectively secure fall edges.
2. Secure openings and non-penetration-proof components against falls and falls through.
3. Use safe routes for access and work.
4. Only use scaffolding if it is safe and approved for use.
5. Machines and equipment must be suitable, free of defects and used as intended.
6. Only walk on roofs and building components if they are walkable or if suitable protective measures are in place.
7. Ladders should only be used if safer work equipment cannot be used; they must be secured against tipping over and slipping.
8. Use required personal protective equipment.
9. When handling hazardous substances, observe the necessary protective measures.

Safe roofing work: Prevention and protective measures

Safe work on the roof begins even before the first step onto the roof surface. A careful risk assessment , effective protective measures , and thorough employee training are the foundation for safe procedures. Technical and organizational protective measures take precedence. Fall edges, for example, can be secured with guardrails. Scaffolding, edge protection, or safety nets offer collective protection. Personal protective equipment against falls is used when the hazard cannot be sufficiently mitigated by these primary measures.

"Falls are not an unavoidable consequence of roof work. The crucial thing is to recognize the dangers before work begins and to consistently implement the necessary safety measures ," emphasizes Kass. "This applies to the installation of a photovoltaic system just as much as to maintenance or cleaning."

The GDA Action Week "Roofing Work " is part of a nationwide experimental year of the Joint German Occupational Safety and Health Strategy on the topic of falls. The federal government, the states, and the statutory accident insurance institutions aim to raise awareness of typical accident risks and strengthen prevention in everyday work.

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