LABORER DIES AFTER FALLING THROUGH 40-FOOT HIGH ROOF OF RECYCLING FACILITY IN NEW JERSEY
A
50-year-old male laborer fell through the roof of a large recycling facility.
The incident occurred on a flat roof approximately 40 feet above the floor of
the recycling plant.
The
victim fell 30 feet and hit an air compressor on a raised platform
(approximately 10 feet off the ground).
On
the day of the incident, the victim and two other workers were assigned to
clear a layer of stones that was in place to protect the roof from ultraviolet
light damage.
The
workers were using brooms and shovels to load the stones into wheelbarrows,
which were taken to the edge of the roof and dumped to a dumpster below. The
victim stepped on an area of the roof that failed and fell to his death.
Contributing
Factors:
·
Deterioration of corrugated metal roof deck
·
Lack of fall protection
Our
investigators recommend that these safety guidelines be followed to prevent
similar incidents:
- All walking or working surfaces should have the structural integrity to support workers.
- All workers engaged in roofing activities with unprotected sides and edges six feet or higher should be trained on and outfitted with personal protective equipment.
- A safety and health plan based on a job hazard analysis should be developed by the employer and followed where workers are assigned tasks.