Fatal Distraction

A 31-year-old spray painter walked off the edge of a roof. He and co-workers were painting a condominium which has multiple roof levels.

The victim had stated he would finish a certain wall before he had to leave to attend to serious personal problems. He placed a ladder on the roof of a protruding shed and climbed onto the roof, without using any fall protection.

As he painted he apparently stepped sideways off the edge and fell 12 feet (3.65 meters) onto a decorative arbor roof built of wooden beams, breaking two, then fell to the walkway.

A co-worker discovered him lying on the concrete. An autopsy report said he died from massive head injuries due to blunt trauma from the fall.