Construction worker died after falling 20-25 feet from a pump-jack scaffold, Oregon

SUMMARY

A 46-year-old owner of a small residential siding company died from injuries sustained when he fell approximately 20-25 feet from a pump-jack scaffold platform onto a concrete slab. The company was a subcontractor hired to install siding on a newly constructed apartment building. The work was being performed using pump-jack scaffolding. On the day of the incident, the siding subcontractor was installing siding in a breezeway. He and his crew erected the scaffold. However, to work around the concrete stairs and related structures in the breezeway, they used only one pump-jack pole and used the stair landing to support the other end of the scaffold platform. To raise the platform above landing height they placed a stepladder on the landing, and would raise the pump-jack pole on the other side. The siding company owner was working alone at the time of the incident. He apparently was attempting to use a second stepladder placed on top of the scaffold platform to access a high peak above a 3rd floor landing, when he fell to the concrete slab at the bottom of the breezeway. A nearby worker called 911. Emergency responders arrived minutes later and transported the injured siding company owner to a hospital trauma center, where he died the following day.

Construction worker died after falling 20-25 feet from a pump-jack scaffold, Oregonpdf icon [PDF 345 KB]