Carpentry Work – Selecting the Right PPE Fatality File

Carpenter Dies After Fall from 6-Foot

On August 9, 2023, the victim, a finish carpenter, and his co-worker arrived at the job site at approximately 7:00 a.m. to begin the day’s task, installation of plywood panels on the ceiling of a newly erected commercial building. August 9 was the second, and projected final, day of the project for the involved company.

After arriving on scene, the victim and his co-worker unloaded the required tools for the job and began carrying out the day’s tasks of taking measurements, cutting the panels to fit, and installing the plywood panels to the rafters of the building.

The rafters in which the plywood panels were being secured measured 11’ 6’‘ from the concrete floor below. As a result, both the victim and the co-worker were required to work at heights to perform the required job task. According to witnesses, several scissor lifts (photo 4) were available for use; however the victim opted to utilize a 6-ft. fiberglass step ladder (photo 5), while his co-worker utilized a 10-ft. fiberglass step ladder (photo 6).

Tasks were being completed as planned without incident until approximately 2:45 p.m., 7 hours and 45 minutes after the workday began. The victim and his co-worker both ascended their ladders to obtain measurements for the next panel. According to the co-worker, the victim was standing on the fourth rung from the bottom of the ladder (diagram 1). The victim was holding one end of the measuring tape with his left hand and reaching beyond the ladder side rails to obtain the proper measurement. While doing so, the co-worker stated that the ladder began falling to the victim’s left (diagram 2). The victim fell approximately 46 inches to the concrete surface below, landing on his head and neck (photo 7). The co-worker immediately descended the ladder, moved the victim’s ladder from its original position to access the victim, and attempted to provide aid. The co-worker yelled for help, and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) contractor who was also at the job site hurried to the victim’s side and called emergency services (EMS) due to the victim being unconscious. While waiting for EMS to arrive, the co-worker repositioned the victim and elevated his head. EMS arrived a short time later, at approximately 3:00 p.m., rendered aid on site, and then transported the victim to an out-of-state hospital. The victim was later transported to a larger out-of-state university hospital but succumbed to the injuries sustained from the fall three days later on August 12, 2023, at 8:45 p.m.

Source: kiprc.uky.edu