Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report for Missouri: Siding Installer Dies after Six Foot Fall from Ladder-Jack Scaffolding

摘要

On February 24, 1998, a 57-year-old male owner (victim) of a residential siding company died following a six-foot fall from scaffolding. The owner and his son (co-worker) were working at a 1 1/2-story home and were in the process of cutting in and stapling up insulation board. The father was working from a walk-board attached to two extension ladders with the use of ladder jacks approximately six feet above a concrete patio. The son was working from one of the extension ladders a few feet above his father. The father was positioning a sheet of insulation while the son was cutting it around a windowsill. Suddenly and without warning the father lost his balance and fell, striking his head on the concrete patio surface. He was taken by helicopter ambulance to the closest trauma center but did not survive the head injury. He died at the trauma center. The purpose of the FACE Program is to identify risk factors that can and do contribute to worker injury and death, and to make recommendations to employers and individuals on how similar events can be avoided. From the information collected about this incident the MO FACE investigator concluded that: (1) Alternative methods of fall protection should be incorporated when the risk of falling to the next lower level or ground is 10 feet or less, and where there is an unusual risk of injury; (2) Contemporary fall protection, including the use of a full body harness, lifelines and rope grabs should be incorporated when working from ladder-jack scaffolding at heights greater than 10 feet. Ladder-jack scaffolding is not approved for use at heights of more than 20 feet above the ground; (3) Develop, implement, and enforce a comprehensive safety program that includes, but is not limited to, training in fall hazard recognition and avoidance.