Working on roofs is among the most hazardous activities carried out in the UK construction industry. The HSE is explicit on this point: roof work accounts for a quarter of all deaths in the construction industry. Every day, workers on commercial and domestic roofs across the UK face risks from roof edges, fragile surfaces, rooflights and adverse weather — risks that are well understood, legally regulated, and still causing deaths. This guide brings together the verified data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on roof work accidents, why roof work is so dangerous, and the legal duties that apply.
Roof work: the highest-risk construction activity
- 1 in 4 construction deaths are linked to roof work, according to the HSE.
- 5× — roofers are estimated to be five times more likely to suffer a fatal accident than workers in other sectors.
- 35 people were killed by falls from height across all industries in Great Britain in 2024/25.
- 52% of construction deaths in 2023/24 were caused by falls from height.
- 4.8× — the construction fatal injury rate is roughly 4.8 times the all-industry average.
- £3m+ — British Airways was fined over £3 million in 2025 for falls from height at Heathrow.
The HSE identifies roof work as carrying daily hazards from roof edges, fragile surfaces, rooflights and adverse weather conditions. In 2024/25, falls from height claimed 35 lives across all industries in Great Britain. Construction accounted for a disproportionate share, with falls from height responsible for over half of all construction deaths over the period examined.
Why roof work is so dangerous
Several characteristics combine to make roof work uniquely hazardous compared with other height work:
Edge risk on every project: all roofs contain edges — parapet walls, eaves and verges — that typically represent unguarded drops. Edge protection systems are the primary control, but they are frequently absent on smaller domestic projects.
Fragile surfaces: many UK roofs incorporate fragile materials that cannot support a person's weight. Asbestos cement sheets, skylights, older fibre cement panels and deteriorated roof sheets may appear solid but can give way without warning. HSE guidance requires treating all roofs as fragile until confirmed safe by a competent assessment.
Fragile rooflights: skylights present a specific hazard, often indistinguishable from solid panels or obscured by paint and weathering. Stepping onto one expecting load-bearing capacity results in a fall without warning.
Working on the pitch: sloped roofs require scaffolding perimeters together with crawling boards, roof ladders and working platforms that distribute weight safely. Working directly on pitched tiles without crawling boards is both dangerous and illegal.
Weather exposure: all roof work takes place outdoors, fully exposed to the elements. Rain, wind, ice and frost all dramatically increase the risk of slipping from a pitched or flat roof.
Fragile roofs: the specific hazard
Falls through fragile materials are the leading single cause of roofing fatalities in the UK — more common even than falls from roof edges. Because fragile roofs contribute so disproportionately to deaths, the HSE's Health and Safety in Roof Work (HSG33) gives them specific guidance.
The main fragile roof hazards are:
- Asbestos cement (AC) sheets: widely used on agricultural and industrial buildings constructed before the 1980s. These deteriorate with age, losing structural integrity while keeping their appearance. Many deaths have resulted from workers stepping onto AC sheets during maintenance, believing them safe.
- Fibre cement sheets: the non-asbestos AC replacement carries similar aging-related fragility risks.
- Rooflights and skylights: glass, plastic (polycarbonate, GRP) and wired glass rooflights all require treatment as fragile. Purpose-designed fragile roof covers, secured and labelled with warnings, are the required control where rooflights cannot be removed or replaced.
- Older flat roofing membranes: deteriorated bituminous felt and earlier waterproofing systems become brittle and fragile with time.
The domestic roofing problem
A specific and persistent pattern in UK roofing deaths is the involvement of smaller builders working on domestic dwellings. The HSE states plainly that many deaths occur each year involving smaller builders working on the roof of domestic dwellings.
Small builders undertaking domestic roofing — tile replacement, flashing repair, roof window installation — may avoid legally required scaffolding because of cost, time pressure, or a belief that the job is too minor to warrant it. A domestic roofer working from a ladder onto a slope without edge protection has no second chance if they slip.
Domestic clients hiring builders without verifying their competence contribute to this pattern. Under the Work at Height Regulations, clients carry obligations to ensure the workers they appoint are competent.
The legal framework for roof work
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply fully to roof work. Additional guidance comes from the HSE's Health and Safety in Roof Work (HSG33, 5th edition).
Key requirements for roof work include:
- Risk assessment before roof work begins, identifying all hazards including fragile materials, edges, rooflights and weather.
- Edge protection — scaffolding or proprietary systems at roof edges where a fall could cause injury.
- Fragile surface management — identifying fragile areas, providing crawling boards or load-spreading equipment, and barriers or covers for rooflights.
- Competent workers — roofers require appropriate training, with specific competency requirements beyond general awareness.
- Appropriate equipment — roof ladders for pitched access, crawling boards for load distribution, and barriers for fragile areas.
| Measure (Great Britain, HSE) | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Share of construction deaths linked to roof work | 1 in 4 | HSE (HSG33) |
| Roofers' fatal accident likelihood vs other sectors | 5× higher | HSE |
| Construction deaths from falls from height (2023/24) | 52% | HSE |
| Construction fatal injury rate vs all-industry average | 4.8× higher | HSE |
| Falls from height fatalities (2024/25, all industries) | 35 | HSE 2024/25 |
Prosecution cases
The HSE regularly prosecutes roofing companies and contractors over roof work fatalities and near-misses. A 2024 case saw a construction company and roofing contractor fined after a roofer suffered multiple fractures in a fall from an unprotected roof edge. In 2025, British Airways was fined over £3 million following falls from height at Heathrow. These enforcement actions underline that the cost of failing to control roof work risks dwarfs the cost of doing the job safely.
Sources & references
- HSE — Health and Safety in Roof Work (HSG33)
- HSE — Roof Work Guidance
- HSE — Work-Related Fatal Injuries in Great Britain 2024/25
- Roofing Today — Falls from Height Lead Deaths in 2025 HSE Statistics
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Mark writes about working at height, roof safety, compliance and accredited training for Working at Heights Course, part of Online CPD Academy.