Abstract
A 28-year-old male steel connector (victim) died of injuries sustained from a 19-foot fall from a bridge under construction. The victim was a member of a crew setting steel beams onto two concrete bridge pillars of a highway overpass. After the steel beams were positioned on the pillars by a crane, the victim and a second steel connector bolted the beams to flange plates incorporated into the design of the bridge pillars. Each connector was working from a platform placed between two beams, on top of the beams' lower flanges. The crew was setting the third beam across the pillars when the incident occurred. As the beam was being lowered, the victim attempted to push it into place. The platform on which the victim was standing gave way, causing the victim to fall to the highway below. The victim was transported to the hospital where he died the next day. NIOSH investigators concluded that, in order to prevent similar occurrences, employers should: 1) require the use of safety belts, lifelines, and lanyards when working from elevations; 2) always secure temporary flooring from displacement during steel erection; 3) develop, implement, and enforce a comprehensive safety program; 4) consider and address worker safety in the planning phase of construction projects; 5) routinely conduct scheduled and unscheduled worksite safety inspections.
