Winter Work: Slips, Ice, Cold Stress and Snow Hazards Fatality File

Worker Dies After Falling Through Snow-Covered Skylight While Clearing Roof

A 66-year-old worker in Hickman County, Tennessee, died after falling through a skylight while removing accumulated snow from the roof of a commercial building. According to the Hickman County Sheriff’s Office, the man was clearing snow when he stepped onto a skylight that was concealed by the snowpack. The skylight gave way under his weight, causing him to fall through the roof to the interior of the building. He was transported for medical care but later died from his injuries.

Winter conditions had completely obscured the skylight, creating a hidden fall hazard on the roof surface. Snow accumulation, slippery footing, reduced visibility of structural openings, and the absence of protective measures significantly increased the risk. This incident highlights how snow, ice, and winter weather can transform routine tasks—like roof clearing—into deadly operations when hazards are hidden beneath snow cover.

Source: Kptv.com