Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) for Wisconsin: Apartment Manager Dies After Falling 30 Feet From Ladder

摘要

The victim was a 50 year old white male who as a maintenance man/apartment manager in an apartment complex. It is believed that the victim climbed an extension ladder to put up some shutters and then climbed farther to remove a toy from the roof. According to witnesses, it was a very windy day and the aluminum extension ladder fell twice while the victim was on the roof. A neighbor put the ladder back but it appears that the locks disengaged on the extended section of the ladder. The neighbor was holding the ladder with both hands and had one foot on the bottom rung to steady it when the victim began coming down the ladder. As the victim put his weight on the ladder, the upper extension of the ladder slid down and the worker fell 30 feet to the hard grass. The victim died 3 hours later during surgery. The Wisconsin FACE director concluded that, in order to prevent similar occurrences, the employer should: (1) Develop, implement, and enforce a comprehensive safety program that includes, but is not limited to training in fall hazard recognition and the use of fall protective devices. (2) Consider and address worker safety in the planning of projects.