Carpenter Fatally Injured after Falling from an Extension Ladder – Massachusetts

SUMMARY

On August 1, 2015 a 49-year-old male carpenter (victim) employed by a residential contractor was fatally injured after falling from an extension ladder. The victim and a co-worker were on site to perform gutter work on a house. The victim was climbing an extension ladder that was set up on stone pavers to access the roof. While climbing the ladder, the victim fell to the ground below when the base of the ladder slipped out and then the ladder fell to the left. The co-worker went to assist the victim and the co-worker and the homeowner placed calls for emergency medical services (EMS). EMS and local police arrived within minutes. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he died 16 days later.

Contributing factors identified in this investigation included: an incorrect ladder type/duty rating was being used; the ladder was overloaded; and the ladder was set up on a surface that was not flat.

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