Fatal Fall Through Skylight Results in $90,000 Fine

Construction workers were installing solar panels on the roof of an industrial building that had 20 skylights. The acting foreman spoke with a co-worker, turned and began walking toward the north end of the roof. He slipped and reached out to brace himself on a skylight. But the skylight couldn’t support his weight and he fell through it to the floor about five metres below. He was critically injured and died about a week later. An MOL investigation revealed that no guardrails or protective coverings were installed around or over any of the skylights. The construction company pleaded guilty to failing to install protective coverings over skylights located on the roof while work was proceeding and was fined $90,000 [Symtech Innovations Ltd., Govt. News Release, Aug. 1, 2014].