Carpenter's helper dies in 24-foot fall from building under construction, January 6, 1989.
Source
Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, FACE 89-14, 1989 Mar; :1-5
Abstract
On January 6, 1989, a 26 year old carpenter's helper died as the result of head and neck injuries sustained in a 24 foot fall from the second floor of a building under construction. The victim was employed for 3 days as a carpenter's helper by a small construction company. The victim was working on an addition to an existing building as a member of a six person crew. He and a carpenter/foreman were on the second floor installing 2 inch by 6 inch gable studs of various lengths. At the time of the incident the victim was kneeling on the floor, nailing the outside bottom of a stud to the frame. After the stud had been nailed the victim began to reposition his pneumatic nailer to the side of the stud when he unintentionally hit his left leg above the knee with the nose of the nailer. The nailer discharged a 3 inch nail into his leg. The foreman tried to remove the nail with a claw hammer, and then went below to get a pair of pliers. When he returned the victim was slumped over toward the open end of the building. The victim fell head first out of the opening into a 8 foot high stack of lumber and then fell to a sand covered asphalt road. He was wearing no fall protective equipment. An emergency medical service arrived within minutes. Enroute to the hospital, cardiopulmonary arrest occurred; the victim was pronounced dead on arrival. The cause of death was multiple traumatic injuries. Recommendations are made concerning fall protection equipment, the development of comprehensive safety programs, consideration for worker safety during the planning phase, and development of procedures for medical emergencies.
Keywords
NIOSH-Author; Region-3; FACE-89-14; Construction-industry; Construction-workers; Accident-analysis; Head-injuries; Traumatic-injuries; Safety-practices; Construction-Search
Document Type
Field Studies; Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation
NTIS Accession No.
PB91-197673
Identifying No.
FACE-89-14
Source Name
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
