Brick Cleaner Tossed From Lift

A laborer cleaning and repairing a brick wall was thrown to his death from the elevated basket of an aerial lift.

He was part of a crew of six cleaning, caulking and replacing brick. The boom of the aerial lift was extended fully and the worker was attempting to move the aerial work platform. The wheels ran over some bricks on the ground, causing the boom to flex. The victim was tossed over the rail and fell 37 feet (11.5 meters) to the concrete below.

Investigators looking into this death observed that a competent person should have inspected the worksite regularly. Anyone operating an aerial lift should have been trained to do so. Fall arrest equipment should have been used at all times for elevated work.