Skylights
CSI Division 08, Openings
Glazed roof openings that bring daylight into a space below, ranging from small unit skylights to large structural skylight systems, requiring careful coordination of roof penetration flashing and, on a walkable or accessible roof, fall-protection guarding since an unguarded skylight opening is a well-documented fall hazard.
Why it matters
OSHA treats skylights as a fall hazard requiring guarding or a screen rated to support anticipated loads, since workers on a roof can mistake a skylight for a solid walking surface, a documented cause of serious falls, this isn't an incidental detail but a specific, enforced safety requirement.
On a real project
A roofer installs a skylight with a code-required guardrail or screen around the opening capable of supporting a worker's weight, in addition to properly flashing the roof penetration to prevent leaks.
Who this matters most to
A Roofer installs the skylight and its flashing. A Safety Manager verifies skylight guarding is in place before crews are allowed to work on the roof around it.
Where this goes wrong
A roofing crew installs a skylight but the required guardrail isn't installed until later in the project, leaving the opening unguarded during the weeks other trades are actively working on the roof. A worker steps back near the opening without realizing it's unguarded, and only a last-second catch by a coworker prevents a serious fall.
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