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Photographer falls 30 feet to his death through a skylight floor opening.

New Jersey Department of Health

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 90NJ008, 1990 Dec; :1-3

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/stateface/nj/90nj008.html

20026483

On June 1, 1990, a 40-year-old free lance photographer died as a result of a 30 foot fall through a skylight floor opening in the ceiling of a third floor school auditorium. The skylight was originally transparent to light received through two skylights in the roof of the school, which was built over 100 years ago. The skylight floor opening is in the attic between the ceiling of the auditorium and the roof of the school building. This space is approximately five feet in height. The skylight floor opening is no longer transparent since the glass was painted white. The victim and his assistant were present to take pictures of a simulated pigeon removal process for a nationally known magazine and he apparently misstepped onto the fragile skylight. FACE investigators concluded that, to prevent similar occurrences in the future, the following safety guidelines should be followed: 1. Owners of buildings must ensure that their facilities are safe. All skylight floor openings must be protected by guard rails. Working areas must be adequately lighted and guarded. 2. All workers must exercise up most caution when entering or working in a new environment. Workers may refuse to work in a hazardous area.

Region-2; Accident-analysis; Accident-prevention; Accidents; Injuries; Injury-prevention; Traumatic-injuries; Photographers; Photography

19901206

Field Studies; Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation

Cooperative Agreement

1991

FACE-90NJ008; Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U60-CCU-207088

NAICS-71

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

NJ; WV

New Jersey Department of Health