Fatal Incident Summary Report: Scaffold Collapse Involving a Painter, May 25, 1983

摘要

The case of a painter who suffered fatal injuries as the result of the collapse of a scaffold on which he was working was examined. On May 25, 1983, two workers who had completed work on a seventh floor window were preparing for their descent. A coworker, who was saved by his lifeline, reported that after receiving a hand signal from the victim to activate the directional switch to lower the scaffold he began preparing his stirrup for downward movement as well as getting his lanyard device ready to move down when he suddenly felt movement of the scaffold and then found himself dangling from his lifeline. The victim fell to the street below. It was concluded that the victim may not have been familiar with the operation of the type of scaffold being used, that his lanyard was deficient in being able to prevent the fatal fall, and that the secondary safety mechanism of the scaffold did not function quickly enough to prevent the supporting wire rope from breaking. It was recommended that all workers using scaffolds receive training in their proper use, maintenance, and limitations.