After a worker falls through a skylight, the condition of the opening can be lost as soon as the roof is repaired. Preserve photographs, measurements, and broken components so the investigation can distinguish what the worker encountered from the replacement installed afterward.
The skylight’s appearance matters too. Weathered glazing may resemble the surrounding roof when viewed from the worker’s approach. Calling the material a skylight does not establish its strength or the protection it required.
What the roof looked like from the work area
Measure the skylight, roof height, walking path, and distance from the assigned work. Photograph the glazing, curb, cover, screen, guardrail, warnings, and lighting. Pre-job photographs can help establish the condition before the fall. Keep the broken parts available for inspection.
Record the worker’s assignment, access route, materials carried, weather, and who inspected the roof. Those details belong alongside the physical measurements, because they describe how the worker reached the opening.
Which protection was required for this task?
29 C.F.R. §1926.501 addresses fall protection for holes and other construction exposures. Determine whether the task was construction, which subsection applied, and whether the chosen cover or guard met the relevant criteria. The task and the actual protective system must be examined together.
The building owner, roofing contractor, general contractor, and worker’s employer may control different conditions. Review actual supervision and notice alongside the contracts. Our construction accident practice examines those site relationships; our article on claims beyond the employer explains why the available remedy needs separate attention.
For initial reporting and recordkeeping, see steps after a Louisiana work injury. You can contact our team while the opening and its components remain available.
Editorial & Legal Accuracy Notice (Louisiana)
Sources checked: September 25, 2026.
The governing standard and civil remedy depend on the task, roof and work relationships.