A fatal roof fall shows why skylights need a safety plan
A Washington roofer died after falling through an unguarded skylight. The state says the company had not identified the hazard or trained workers on it, a reminder that roof safety checks must cover skylights as well as edges.
A roofer in Wapato, Washington, died after falling more than 25 feet through a skylight onto a concrete floor inside a fruit-packing warehouse. Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries cited Leslie & Campbell Inc. and fined the Union Gap company $48,803, according to Occupational Health & Safety.
The state’s investigation found that nothing guarded the skylight. It also found that the company had not identified skylights as fall hazards and had not trained workers well enough on the danger. The company is appealing the citation and fine.
The case is a sharp reminder for roofing firms and other trades that work near roof openings. A skylight can look like a solid part of the roof, but it may not support a worker’s weight. Crews need to know where openings are before work begins.
Make roof openings part of the job plan
A fall plan should name skylights and other roof openings as hazards, not just roof edges. The Washington investigation shows why: the agency said the hazard had not been identified, and workers had not received enough training about it.
That lesson applies beyond roofing. HVAC, solar, painting, and maintenance crews may also work on or near roofs. Before sending a team up, the person in charge should check the work area, point out openings, and explain how workers must stay protected.
The citation was not the only recent Washington case involving fall protection. Occupational Health & Safety reports that the state cited several roofing companies in recent months. In one case, Roof Doctor Inc. was fined $238,680 after a roof section collapsed beneath a worker. Inspectors found the worker’s safety rope was too long, and the worker was hospitalized. The company is appealing its citation.
The Daily Chronicle reports that five construction companies received more than $440,000 in fall-protection fines over four months. The reported cases involved different events and companies, but they point to the same practical issue: safety gear and training have to match the actual work area.
A harness alone does not make a job safe if the tie-off plan, rope length, or hazard check is wrong. A crew also needs to understand what is underfoot and where a fall could happen. Managers should confirm those details before work starts, then check again if the job changes.
Check the plan before the next roof job
Owners can take a few steps this week. First, review the next roof job with the crew lead and mark skylights, openings, and weak roof areas in the plan. Second, confirm the fall protection setup fits the site and the task, including where workers connect and whether the rope length is right.
- Ask each worker to point out the roof hazards and explain the protection plan before climbing.
- Check that new workers and subcontractors receive the same site-specific safety briefing.
- Record the inspection and training, and pause work if the roof conditions or task change.
These checks take time before a job, but they can expose gaps while the crew is still on the ground. In the Washington fatality, the state said the skylight was not guarded and had not been identified as a fall hazard. For an owner, the useful response is clear: make every opening visible in the plan, train the crew on it, and verify protection before work begins.