Wind Blows Wall Over Onto Worker

A laborer was killed when a high wind blew over an unsupported concrete block wall.

He was part of a three-person team laying subflooring during construction of a townhouse building.

The other two workers had removed the bracing on the firewall and the victim was working close to it, nailing sheathing into place for the subfloor. The wind apparently caused the wall to topple, burying the worker under the rubble.

Lack of worker experience and training may have contributed to this fatality. This mishap is a reminder of the danger of removing safeguards, in this case, the bracing which supported the wall. Working in adverse weather conditions can be dangerous and sometimes fatal, as this fatality report illustrates.