Fall through fibre-cement roof: Federal Court quashes convictions

24/06/2026 · Federal Supreme Court · SZ · Seriously injured · 6B_657/2024

What happened Removing a fibre-cement roof that was not walk-safe, roofers moved on roof ladders. One stepped beside the ladder, broke through a sheet and fell about 7.8 m.

What the court decided March District Court and the Schwyz Cantonal Court (18.6.2024) convicted both of intentionally breaching building rules and acquitted them of bodily harm. The Federal Court quashed this and sent the case back – outcome open.

Why The Federal Court upheld both appeals and sent the case back; the Cantonal Court must rule again.

Managing director: case open – Intentional breach of building rules, earlier sentence: 120 day-fines of CHF 440 (total CHF 52,800), suspended + fine CHF 13,200. Convicted by the Cantonal Court; quashed by the Federal Court, new ruling pending.
Foreman: case open – Intentional breach of building rules, earlier sentence: 96 day-fines of CHF 200 (total CHF 19,200), suspended + fine CHF 4,800. Convicted by the Cantonal Court; quashed by the Federal Court, new ruling pending.

Roof ladders alone don't stop break-throughs: nets or crawling boards over the whole area.

Source: entscheidsuche.ch (DE) · Luzerner Zeitung (DE)

Fact summary in our own words based on the linked source, which prevails. No names of the people involved.