Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report for Colorado: Construction Company Owner Dies When He Falls from Roof of Home Under Construction in Colorado

摘要

The owner of a small construction company in Colorado was fatally injured when he fell from the roof he was standing on. In this incident a crew of three were applying sheets of plywood to the roof trusses of a two story home under construction. Employee no. 1 (the deceased) was cutting sheets of plywood for the other two employees. He was standing on a portion of the roof that had already had the plywood applied. The other two employees were nailing sheets of plywood on the opposite side of the roof and did not witness the fall. The surface of the work location of the deceased was covered with sawdust. No fall protection was in use by any of the employees and there had not been any safety cleats nailed in place. It is thought that the deceased started to slide from the roof and was unable to reach anything to help arrest the slide. He fell approximately 18 feet and suffered a fractured skull. The Colorado Department of Health (CDH) investigator concluded that to prevent future similar occurrences, employers should: (1) Implement 29 CFR 1926.104 that requires the use of safety belts, lifelines, and lanyards when working from elevations. (2) Develop, implement, and enforce a comprehensive written safety program that includes, but is not limited to, training in fall hazard recognition and the use of fall protection devices. (3) Conduct a job-site survey on a regular basis to identify potential hazards, implement appropriate control measures, and provide subsequent training to employees that specifically addresses all identified hazards.