Fall from Elevation Kills

A 49-year-old construction worker was killed as a result of a fall from a roof.

Two crews, one working for the general contractor and the other for a subcontractor, were working on a low-pitch metal roof on a commercial building. The victim was part of the subcontractor’s seven-person crew.

The crew working for the general contractor cut an opening for an elevator. The opening had been cut, but the metal had not yet been removed. The metal was supported by a single beam, and held in place by a couple of screws. This crew had not informed the roofing crew that the hole had been cut. The cutout had not been protected by barricade or by a person stationed as monitor. The general contractor did not have a fall protection work plan.

The subcontractor had a fall protection work plan utilizing the safety monitor system. The victim was walking to another portion of the roof when he stepped onto the cut section of the roof, which gave way. He dropped through the hole, falling 25 feet (about 7.5 meters).

• Do you alert your subcontractors to hazards or unusual conditions on the work site?
• Have you assessed the job site for possible hidden hazards?
• Have you provided safeguarding of open holes or cutouts (monitors or barricades) on the walking surface?
• Do you have a fall protection work plan, and are all your employees trained?
• Do you ensure your subcontractors have their own fall protection work plan?