Temporary Floor Openings Must be Secure

A worker fell through an insecure opening on a roof during a construction project.

A fire-damaged warehouse was being re-insulated and rebuilt. A hole which had been cut in the roof by the fire department was covered by a sheet of plywood. A worker on the roof picked up the plywood, not realizing it covered the hole, and fell through the opening.

He fell to a concrete floor nearly 30 feet below. He suffered multiple injuries in the fall and died.

All such temporary openings must be securely covered and warnings posted immediately to prevent such falls.