Two laborers die from a scaffolding fall inside a water tank.
Source
NIOSH 2003 Mar; :1-6
Abstract
Two 20 year-old laborers died after falling approximately 25 feet from suspension scaffolding while preparing the inside of a municipal water tank for painting. Neither laborer was wearing fall personal protection equipment at the time of the fatal incident. The laborers were preparing the inside of a 200,000-gallon water tank for painting when one end of the scaffolding dropped after a support cable slipped. The job foreman arrived at the job site and entered the tank to check on the laborers. He found both laborers on the tank floor. Laborer 1 had respiratory vital signs but Laborer 2 did not. The foreman left the tank, called 911 then reentered the tank. Emergency medical services arrived at the scene and administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the laborers. Laborer 2 was declared dead at the scene. Laborer 1 died the next day in the hospital. To prevent similar incidents from occurring, Kentucky FACE recommends: 1. Scaffolding should be inspected for safety hazards prior to each work shift and every time it is moved. 2. Employees should use fall personal protection equipment provided by the employer. 3. Safety training and warnings should be reinforced regularly to employees exposed to the dangers of falls from heights.
Keywords
Region-4; Accident-analysis; Accident-potential; Accident-prevention; Accidents; Injury-prevention; Safety-practices; Traumatic-injuries; Scaffolds; Personal-protection; Personal-protective-equipment; Protective-equipment;
Author Keywords: Suspended scaffolding; Personal protective equipment
Document Type
Field Studies; Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation
Funding Type
Cooperative Agreement
NTIS Accession No.
PB2012-114017
Identifying No.
FACE-02KY041; Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U60-CCU-409879
Source Name
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Performing Organization
Kentucky Department of Health Services
