ACCIDENT SUMMARY No. 54

Accident Type:	Fall from Roof
Weather Conditions:	Clear
Type of Operation:	Construction Roofing
Size of Work Crew:	4
Collective Bargaining	Yes
Competent Safety Monitor on Site:	No
Safety and Health Program in Effect:	No
Was the Worksite Inspected Regularly:	No
Training and Education Provided:	No
Employee Job Title:	Roofer
Age & Sex:	21-Male
Experience at this Type of Work:	6 months
Time on Project:	3 weeks

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT

A roofer, handling a piece of fiberboard, backed up and tripped over a 7½ inch parapet. He fell more than 50 feet to ground level and died of severe head injuries.

INSPECTION RESULTS

Inspection of the accident site revealed that there was neither a safety monitoring system/warning lines or a moton-stopping-safety (MSS) system in use during the installation on the roof of the building. Also, there were two unguarded duct openings on the roof.

ACCIDENT PREVENTION RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Provide standard railing for temporary floor opening [29 CFR 1926.500(b)(7)].
2. Provide employees engaged in built-up rooting work on low-pitched roofs with a safety monitoring system on roofs of fifty feet or less in width where mechanical equipment is not being used [29 CFR 1926.500(g)(1)(iii)].
3. Erect warning lines around all sides of the work area during the performance of built-up roofing work on low-pitched roofs where the ground to cave height Is greater than 16 feet [29 CFR 1926.500(g)(3)(i)].
4. Assure that employees engaged in built-up roofing work have been trained and instructed in the nature of fall hazards in the work area near a roof edge; the function, use and operation of the MSS system, warning line, and safety monitoring systems to be used;. the correct procedures for erecting, maintaining, and disassembling the systems to be used; the role of each employee in the safety monitoring system when this system is used; the limitations on the use of mechanical equipment; and the correct procedures for the handling and storage of equipment and materials [29 CFR 1926.500(g)(6) (ii)(a) through (f)].
5. Erect an MSS system along all unprotected roof sides and edges [29 CFR 1926.500 (g)(5)].

SOURCES OF HELP

• OSHA General Industry Standards [29 CFR parts 1900-1910] and OSHA Construction Standards [29 CFR Part 1926] which together include all OSHA job safety and health rules and regulations covering construction.
• OSHA Safety and Health Training Guidelines for Construction (Available from the National Technical Information Service, 5265 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161; 703/467-4650; Order No. PB-239-312/AS): a set of 15 guidelines to help construction employers establish a training program in the safe use of equipment, tools, and machinery on the job

NOTE: The case here described was selected as being representative of fatalities caused by improper work practices. No special emphasis or priority is implied nor is the case necessarily a recent occurrence. The legal aspects of the incident have been resolved, and the case is now closed.