Fatal Accident Circumstances and Epidemiology (FACE) Report: Cement Finisher DiesAfter 17-Foot Fall Through Unguarded Floor Opening, North Carolina, July 2, 1993

摘要

A cement finisher died after stepping backwards and falling through an unguardedfloor opening at a textile mill. The 38 year old man was employed by a temporary employment service that supplied employees to a concrete contractor operated by the same owners. A three story addition was being added to the spinning area of a textile mill. Concrete was being poured on the second floor. The floor contained eight unguarded openings, each measuring 32 inches wide by 18 feet long, which were to be used as vents and ducts for service cables. An opening for an elevator shaft was guarded by a steel rope barrier. The victim was walking backwards as he worked a bullfloat and stepped into one of the openings, falling 17 feet to the concrete floor below, striking his head. He died of closed head trauma. Recommendations for preventing similar accidents included adherence to regulations which require that all floor and platform openings be protected with a standard railing or a floor opening cover secured against displacement.