08.03.2021

Fatal AWP incident

A man died last Wednesday after falling from an aerial work platform in Chicago, Illinois. We do not know if it was a boom or a scissor lift - although an initial report said it was a boom lift.

The man, Jose Merchan, was working on an installation project for architectural ironwork and staircase manufacturer Why Not Iron. According to the Chicago fire department he and another man were working from the platform of an aerial lift when something went wrong and they both fell to the ground. The other person was critically injured and is in hospital.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an investigation into the incident along with the Chicago Police. No further details have been released but we will update if and when we learn more.