The One Height Hazard Most Supervisors Still Ignore

It looked solid—until it wasn’t. One step, one crack, six meters down. In mining and construction, every fragile surface hides a story waiting to happen.

Why This Matters

Every year, fragile roof surfaces cause life-altering injuries across construction and mining sites worldwide. Many incidents occur on “routine” jobs—a quick inspection, minor repair, or clean-up. Through the FatalFree™ Method and The Fatal 12, we expose hidden patterns behind these events and show how to break them before they break lives.

The Reality Check: Assumption is the Hazard

On paper, every site has a working-at-heights policy. In reality, crews step onto untested roofs that “look fine.” The problem isn’t ignorance—it’s assumption. Fragile surfaces often don’t reveal danger until it’s too late.

The Expert Moment: Behavioral Blind Spot

With 13+years in mining safety, I’ve seen incidents where supervision relied on visual judgment alone. The deeper issue is a behavioral blind spot: experience replaces verification. The FatalFree™ approach restores discipline to decisions made above ground.

Action Steps to Control Fragile Roof Risk

• Identify: Inspect and label all fragile roof zones before work begins.
• Restrict: Install warning signage and physically restrict access unless protection is in place.
• Plan: Use temporary platforms, edge protection, or fall-arrest systems for any roof work.
• Train: Brief workers and contractors on the “no step” rule and rescue planning.
• Verify: Check controls before work starts—not after an incident.

FatalFree™ Takeaway

The difference between compliant and fatal is often just one unchecked roof sheet.

About FatalFree™

FatalFree™ helps organizations simplify safety through The Fatal 12 — the twelve most common causes of workplace fatalities. Learn how we make safety practical, visual, and proactive at FatalFree.com.