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Roof fall in Tulln: 24-year-old seriously injured while working on solar systems
A 24-year-old worker from Tulln fell four meters during maintenance work on a photovoltaic system and was seriously injured.
Roof fall in Tulln: 24-year-old seriously injured while working on solar systems
On June 23, 2025, there was a serious industrial accident in the municipality of Tulln in Lower Austria. A 24-year-old man was replacing a panel on a photovoltaic system when he fell from the roof at around 7:05 a.m. The fall occurred as a result of an Eternit plate breaking that the worker stepped on. He fell from a height of almost four meters and sustained serious injuries.
As a result of the serious injuries, the man was immediately taken to the trauma center in Vienna-Meidling by rescue helicopter. The responsible labor inspectorate was informed of this in order to further investigate the circumstances of the accident. Such incidents make it clear how dangerous working on roofs can be and which necessary safety precautions are often not observed.
The dangers of working with photovoltaic systems
As is known from the information on safety on construction sites, checks should be carried out regularly when working with photovoltaic systems in order to avoid the risk of falls and electrical problems. This also includes inspections of roof surfaces, which can be affected by consequential damage such as marten browsing or weather influences. To ensure worker safety, access and fall protection must be included in the planning phase so that no new safety measures need to be created during maintenance.
Proper electrical maintenance is also essential. This should start near the inverter, which should be easily accessible. Furthermore, a qualified electrician must ensure that the photovoltaic system is free of electricity before starting work, especially if work is being carried out in an area with direct voltage. There are strict requirements that work must not begin as long as there are unclear risks that the system will be impaired.
Necessary safety precautions
In addition to the points already mentioned, it is also important to note that skylights, which are often installed on roofs, can represent a source of danger that should not be underestimated. These are generally not permanently fall-proof unless they meet specific standards such as DIN 18008-6. Skylights must be secured appropriately to minimize the risk of accidents, especially during replacement or renovation.
If there is no fixed fall protection, protective nets or mobile fall protection systems serve as urgent measures. When working in such places, suitable personal protective equipment and a well-thought-out rescue concept for workers are essential. These safety measures must be implemented in order to prevent serious accidents like the one in Tulln.
The tragic events of June 23, 2025 clearly show how important it is not only to know safety standards, but also to consistently apply them. This is the only way to ensure the safety of workers on roofs and near photovoltaic systems.
For further information on safety standards in the area of photovoltaic systems and when working on roofs, the following links can be accessed: 5min.at reports that ..., BGBau.de offers information on Fall risks, as well as Safe working methods at the construction portal.