Who is liable in the event of a fall from the roof / damage?

Fall protection on the roof is an often neglected topic, although each year around 40 percent of all fatal accidents in the construction industry are caused by falls. As an owner, building operator or facility manager, you should secure your roof area. Otherwise it will not only be time-consuming, but also expensive, as you will have to renegotiate the type of fall protection with each contracted trade *.

What do you have to pay attention to in terms of roof safety?

Every owner or operator of a property is obliged to ensure the road safety of his property. If the roof area becomes a workplace, for example for inspection by the caretaker or maintenance work, the Workplace Act requires professional protection against falling (DIN4426).

Our tip: with an individual risk assessment on site, you save time and money.

Who is responsible for roof safety?

According to the legislator, the building operators are responsible for roof security. Both building law and the workplace ordinance place requirements for the maintenance of structural systems on the roof owner or operator. If these regulations are disregarded, there is a risk of fines or even personal liability claims against executives.

Our tip: it is essential to note that there is no grandfathering for older buildings.

What are the obligations for roof safety?

The owner must be able to prove by means of installation documentation that permanently installed safety systems, e.g. attachment points, have been properly installed. To ensure the security of the protective measures at all times, maintenance must be carried out at certain intervals - annually for most systems.

Our tip: make sure that you only commission certified experts with the test.

* This service is only intended to provide an initial overview and does not claim to be complete. Although prepared with the greatest possible care, we assume no liability for the accuracy of the content
** German Statutory Accident Insurance eV 
*** Personal protective equipment against falls

The owner or operator should always ensure that work can be carried out safely. If there is no fall protection, the contracted trade must retrofit it before carrying out the maintenance work. Because according to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the performing trade is responsible for the safety of its employees and will not carry out the work without protection.

Our tip: according to DGUV **, collective hazard protection (e.g. SECURail® railing system) must be given priority over individual protective measures (PPE ***).

Legally compliant security for your roof

The German Statutory Accident Insurance (DGUV) provides the planning basis for the right safety system for your roof area. Depending on the access to the roof, the group of people and the maintenance interval, there is a recommendation for the minimum equipment against falls. For a better overview, the recommendations are grouped into equipment classes. The higher the equipment class, the larger the group of people included. If the roof area is not equipped to the recommended extent, the insurance cover cannot be guaranteed by the DGUV.

Information 201-056 "Planning principles for anchor devices on roofs" of the German Social Accident Insurance eV (DGUV)

Equipment class 1 (ASK1): Securing with individual anchor points and personal protective equipment against falling

Equipment class 2 (ASK2): Securing with lifeline systems or rail systems and personal protective equipment against falls

Equipment class 3 (ASK3): Securing with side protection, railing or fall-through protection as a collective protective measure * with SECU® rope

ergo-click-front_SECUPOHL_754 X 503

Contact us

Your plus - for safety

Personality and customer proximity come first. We are looking forward to your contact.

Inquire now