March 26, 2025

Falls through roofs and struck-by detached equipment

As a service to our policyholders, Texas Mutual shares serious workplace injury trends based on catastrophic injuries and fatalities reported to our claims department. Not all of these reported injuries are covered by workers’ compensation insurance, but our goal is to help you ensure these types of incidents do not happen in your workplace. Find safety tips below to help keep your employees safe on the job.

If you have questions, we encourage you to contact our safety services support center at 844-WORKSAFE (967-5723) or safety@texasmutual.com.

In this alert:

• Falls through roofs
• Struck-by detached equipment

Falls through roofs

An employee was working on a storm-damaged, industrial roof. They stepped on a weakened roof panel and fell through, landing on the ground below. In a separate incident, an individual was inspecting the flat roof of a retail building when they fell through to the ground floor below. Both individuals sustained serious injuries from these falls.

Falls through weak or damaged roof sections can lead to severe injuries or fatalities. These hazards are often difficult to identify, especially on roofs that have been compromised by weather events or age. Employees working on roofs must be aware of the potential for unexpected weak spots and take appropriate precautions.

• Thoroughly inspect the roof for signs of weakness or damage before beginning work.
• Use appropriate fall protection equipment when working on any roof.
• Be especially cautious when working on roofs after severe weather events.
• Distribute your weight evenly and avoid stepping on areas that appear damaged.
• Report any signs of roof deterioration to your supervisor immediately.

Struck-by detached equipment

Two employees recently sustained serious injuries in separate incidents involving detached equipment. One employee, working on a construction site, was struck-by a bucket that had detached from an excavator. Another employee, working near a pipe, was struck-by a valve that blew off.

Equipment failure, improper maintenance or normal wear and tear can cause equipment parts to suddenly break free, potentially striking employees. For example, employees might encounter a conveyor belt roller detaching in a warehouse or a machine part breaking free on a production line. Even in seemingly low-risk environments, there is a risk of equipment parts detaching. To prevent injuries, awareness and preventive measures are crucial for all employees.

• Maintain a safe distance from operating machinery when possible.
• Before using equipment, conduct an inspection for signs of wear or potential failure.
• Verify that all attachment points and fasteners are secure before operating equipment.
• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment, including hard hats, safety glasses and steel-toed boots.
• Report any unusual noises, vibrations or performance issues to your supervisor immediately.

Get free safety resources

Texas Mutual policyholders have access to thousands of free training materials in our multimedia safety resource center, including our safety catalog with up-to-date resources.

To access the free materials, log in to your texasmutual.com account and select Safety. If you need help accessing safety resources or you have a safety question, call us toll-free at 844-WORKSAFE (967-5723).

Download a PDF (219KB) version of the March Safety Alert.