Information previously included as a fact sheet about avoiding skylight falls has been updated and posted as a webpage by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA). This webpage provides statistics about falls and offers tips for avoiding them.
“The issue of fall protection is not a new one, and fall fatalities are avoidable,” says John Westerfield (CrystaLite), chair of the Skylight Fall Protection Task Group, which led efforts to develop the webpage. “Fall protection needs to be a continued focus for employers and building owners post-construction, as many non-construction related tradesmen often access flat roofs.”
Currently, there is not a standardized method for testing a skylight for its ability to withstand an impact from a falling human. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and similar authorities, have established regulations, but the skylight industry agrees that these regulations are vague and open to different interpretations. ASTM has drafted a standard and test method to validate the ability of a skylight (or related product) to support the effect of the impact from a large male, and the review process is underway.
“The AAMA Skylight/Sloped Glazing Council has worked for over 30 years to establish performance standards and design guidelines in which safety has been an important consideration,” Westerfield adds. “Manufacturer members of the council have been proactive in improving the safety performance of their products.”