Sunday, February 8, 2015

A METAL FABRICATION AND FINISHING FOREMAN DIES AFTER 25 FOOT FALL AT A COMMERCIAL BUILDING SITE




 A METAL FABRICATION AND FINISHING FOREMAN DIES AFTER 25 FOOT FALL AT A COMMERCIAL BUILDING SITE

 Summary
The foreman on the commercial construction job was hired in July 2013 to supervise the work of the laborers for a metal fabrication and finishing company. The foreman came highly recommended from a competitor company. The foreman had 20 plus years’ experience in the industry. The company maintained a safety program and had a consultant perform safety training in January 2013 that included fall protection.  The foreman did not participate in that safety training because he was hired in July 2013.

On a fall Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 pm, the 53-year-old male fabrication and finishing foreman was installing sheets of insulation prior to decking on a commercial building.  The foreman was standing at the edge of the decking on roof beams, arguing with an excavation contractor about the movement of his loader to complete grading work.  Witnesses say the foreman was distracted when he told the other workers to spread the “itchy” (meaning rolls of fiberglass insulation).

When the foreman took a step forward as he usually did, he fell off the edge and died of head and neck injuries.

To prevent future occurrences of similar incidents, the following recommendations have been made:

Recommendation No. 1: Employers should always ensure employees have access to tie off when working in high areas allowing employees to remain tied off at all times.

Recommendation No. 2: General Contractors should coordinate and stagger various subcontractors’ work to prevent creation of additional hazards, conflict and obstructions

Recommendation No. 3: Employers should be sure safety training is given to each new hire prior to working.

Recommendation No. 4: Employers should implement and enforce a written safety policy which states the consequences of not following their personal fall arrest policy.

Recommendation No. 5: General contractors should ensure through contract language that all subcontractors implement and enforce appropriate safety and health programs and training specific to the work to be performed.