Falling Panels Kill Custodian

A custodial worker was preparing to vacuum the hallway in front of a set of elevators. There were three piles of partitions stacked against the wall across from the elevator doors. A co-worker later found him, sitting with just his head appearing above the partitions. It seems that he jumped onto the pile of partitions in search of an electrical outlet for the vacuum cleaner. When he jumped down, he accidentally pulled the panels down upon himself.

This incident points out the need for safe work practices in three areas. One concerns the safe layout of the work space – in this case the electrical outlet was barricaded by the panels. Another is the correct stacking of materials so that they are not easily dislodged. The third is choice of footing by the worker – in this case the unstable stack.