30.10.2013
Fatal Fall in Florida
A man fell through a roof, dropping nine metres to his death, last week in central Florida, after leaving the safety of a scissor lift in order to follow a seam in the leaky roof.
The roof panel had no support under it and gave way, causing him to fall to the concrete floor below. He was declared dead shortly after arriving at the hospital
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigated the incident at a water meter distribution centre in Ocala, to the north of Orlando. But as the man, Charles Bunyan Harward, 48, was a self-employed sub-contractor, it said that it would not be investigating further or taking any action.
Osha only investigates employer-employee situations, not the injury or death of the self-employed. Harward was sub contracted by Center State Enterprises to fix the roof leak. Ocala Police Department said that its investigation was only to determine if there was any criminal wrongdoing and as nothing criminal was discovered it would not pursue the case.
Harward was not wearing any Fall Arrest equipment.
Warren Howard
I am sorry to say but this sad loss of life will continue until there is a fundamental change to make owners or general contractors more responsible for the overall H&S of all workers on their job site. I had 15+ years experience managing sites in the UK and though my recent move to the US has been overall positive, the 'not my probem Jack' attitude to H&S has scared the flippin crap out of me
Craniac 1
Leigh-
...And yet another that may have been prevented with adequate planning and fall protection. This location is just north of Daytona Beach, FL. The deceased is listed as being from Polk County, across the state close to Tampa. See the news story here- http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20131028/NEWS/131029461/0/search
My brother was working in the area and saw the evac helicopter arrive and depart. Apparently, roofers working on the 2nd floor stocking roof tiles and one man slipped off. A tragic end to a mundane workday task.
Regards,
CM