Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report for Massachusetts: Bridge Painter Dies in Fall While Working on Massachusetts Bridge, FACE-93-MA-008.

摘要

On May 27, 1993, a 44 year old, male bridge painter fell approximately 134 feet to his death from a Massachusetts bridge. The victim was apparently aiding in the retrieval of a suspended cable running along the bridge when he fell from outside the bridge's suicide barrier at the highest center span of the bridge. At the time of the incident the victim was wearing a safety belt and lanyard, but his lanyard was not tied off to an anchorage point, and neither was a safety net employed. Once he was retrieved from the canal by boat, the victim was given CPR. Awaiting emergency medical personnel administered subsequent emergency treatment when the boat reached shore. The victim was then transported to the regional hospital where he was officially pronounced dead one hour following the fall. The Massachusetts FACE Program concluded that to prevent similar future occurrences, employers should: (1) Develop and implement a comprehensive safety program that includes training workers to identify and avoid jobsite hazards. (2) Provide the personal protective equipment that is necessary on a high hazard jobsite, and ensure that the equipment is properly maintained and used. Additionally, government agencies should: (3) Include fall protection provisions in their bid specifications when seeking private contractors to perform bridge work. (4) Explore the feasibility of reviewing the safety history of firms when awarding contracts.