Safety netting has played an important role in the construction industry for many years. Usage of nets conforming to BS EN 1263-1 in underslung applications is supported by:

• HSE (Health & Safety Executive)
• ACR (Advisory Committee for Roofsafety)
• FASET (Fall Arrest Safety Equipment Training)

These organisations provide detailed guidance on its correct and safe application. 

However, more recently, safety netting products are being offered for use over rooflights, as a means of fall arrest in the event of a person falling onto a rooflight which may be classed as ‘fragile roof’.

Some manufacturers’ installation instructions show nets being secured over an out-of-plane rooflight by means of a ratchet strap to the upstand, or freestanding unfixed and unsecured temporary framework.

Any freestanding safety frameworks used over rooflights of any kind should be appropriately tested, suitable for the application and adequately restrained in position to avoid displacement in the event of a trip or fall.

In addition, and of even greater concern, we have seen netting manufacturers showing roofwork restraint safety lines wrongly labelled as ‘fall arrest systems’ and anchored to rooflight nets which are in turn anchored to rooflight upstands.