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Abstract

A 51-year-old male demolition foreman (the victim) died from head injuries sustained when he fell through a hole in a flat roof to a concrete floor. At about 3:25 pm the victim was on the roof to retrieve a four by eight sheet of 3/4" plywood to be used at another location on the plant site. After moving the plywood, partially exposing the hole, the victim fell 35 feet to a concrete floor. There were no witnesses to the fall. He was found by the site supervisor approximately one-half hour later. Emergency medical personnel were called. Co-workers at the scene checked for pulse and respiration and noted none. The coroner pronounced the victim dead at the scene. The victim died instantaneously from a skull fracture and other internal injuries. The Kentucky FACE investigator concluded that, to prevent similar occurrences, employers should:

  • Cover temporary roof openings and secure area where hazards are known to exist. (Implement 29 CFR 1926.500 (b) (8)).
  • Instruct employees in the recognition and avoidance of hazards associated with falls and the use of safety belts and lifelines.
  • Assign safety responsibilities to a competent individual and conduct scheduled and unscheduled work site safety inspections.

Document Type

Report

Release Date

6-8-1994

Incident Number

94KY051; KY9405101

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