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Worker Falls Headfirst Through The Roof Opening

The company had been contracted to fabricate and install a sheet metal cap over an opening on the flat roof of a large fiberglass manufacturing plant. The 50-inch-square opening was created when an air conditioning duct was removed. The 54-inch-square cap was fabricated from galvanized steel with angle-iron reinforcement. This cap weighed approximately 75 pounds.

On the day of the incident the victim and a co-worker were preparing to install the cap. The victim and the co-worker leaned the cap against a 30-inch-high by 48-inch-wide metal frame that had been previously used to support the air conditioning unit. The frame, located approximately 34 inches from the roof opening, is constructed of 3-inch angle iron. The victim positioned himself between the leaning cap and the roof opening, while the co-worker positioned himself on the other side of the opening. Neither worker was wearing any type of fall protection equipment. The co-worker was kneeling and the victim was stooped over applying caulking to the 6-inch raised curb bordering the opening. A gust of wind blew the cap over. The cap struck the victim, causing him to fall headfirst through the roof opening, to a concrete floor 22 feet below (see Figure).

Workers inside the plant saw the victim fall and immediately summoned help from personnel within the plant. A plant nurse arrived within 3 minutes and initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation. When the local emergency medical service was called, a local doctor heated the emergency call over the radio and responded. He pronounced the victim dead at the scene.

Cause of Death

The medical examiner's report stated that death resulted from multiple traumatic injuries.

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