Fatal Roof and Ladder Falls in Residential Construction: Richard Fairfax, CIH Director Enforcement Programs Richard Fairfax, CIH Director Enforcement Programs

Data & Information Source  Construction Industry Research and Policy Center  University of Tennessee  September 2009  Contract No. J089F26523  Prepared for the U.S. Department of Labor – Occupational Safety and Health Administration  Construction Industry Research and Policy Center  University of Tennessee  September 2009  Contract No. J089F26523  Prepared for the U.S. Department of Labor – Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Overview  Falls dominate fatalities in construction with falls from/through roofs and falls from and with ladders are of prime importance  Study was based on 2005 through 2007 OSHA inspection case files looking at 116 residential roof/ladder falls  Falls dominate fatalities in construction with falls from/through roofs and falls from and with ladders are of prime importance  Study was based on 2005 through 2007 OSHA inspection case files looking at 116 residential roof/ladder falls

Overview  Falls from Roofs  80% were falls from the roof rather than through the roof  Leading factors  Fall protection not used  Lack of training  Insufficient task planning  Falls from Roofs  80% were falls from the roof rather than through the roof  Leading factors  Fall protection not used  Lack of training  Insufficient task planning

Overview  Falls from Roofs  80 percent were roofers  Approximately 20% were carpenters  Over 80% of these falls showed that there was no safety plan or that the safety plan was incomplete  Falls from Roofs  80 percent were roofers  Approximately 20% were carpenters  Over 80% of these falls showed that there was no safety plan or that the safety plan was incomplete

Overview  Falls from ladders  Leading factors  Lack of training  The task was insufficiently planned  Top contributing factor  Unexpected movement of the working surface (ladder)  Falls from ladders  Leading factors  Lack of training  The task was insufficiently planned  Top contributing factor  Unexpected movement of the working surface (ladder)

Overview  Falls from ladders  Laborers and carpenters experienced more frequent fatalities than did roofers  Falls from ladders  Laborers and carpenters experienced more frequent fatalities than did roofers

Falls from Roofs  Fatal Event  Fall from the roof (61)  Fall through roof opening (6)  Fall through skylight (3)  Fatal Event  Fall from the roof (61)  Fall through roof opening (6)  Fall through skylight (3)

Falls from Roofs  Top contributing factor  Fall protection not used (56)  Lack of training (44)  Task not sufficiently planned (43)  Lost balance (30)  Lack of concentration (21)  Slipped and tripped while moving (21)  Top contributing factor  Fall protection not used (56)  Lack of training (44)  Task not sufficiently planned (43)  Lost balance (30)  Lack of concentration (21)  Slipped and tripped while moving (21)

Falls from Roofs  Top contributing factor (cont.)  Employer did not provide fall protection (16)  Misjudge of roof edge (14)  Language barrier (12)  No competent person (11)  Lack of daily safety inspection (11)  Top contributing factor (cont.)  Employer did not provide fall protection (16)  Misjudge of roof edge (14)  Language barrier (12)  No competent person (11)  Lack of daily safety inspection (11)

Falls through Roof Openings  Top contributing factor  Task not sufficiently planned (6)  Lack of training (5)  Fall protection not used (5)  Victim fell through material over opening (5)  Lack of concentration (3)  Unguarded opening (3)  Slipped/tripped while moving (2)  Top contributing factor  Task not sufficiently planned (6)  Lack of training (5)  Fall protection not used (5)  Victim fell through material over opening (5)  Lack of concentration (3)  Unguarded opening (3)  Slipped/tripped while moving (2)

Falls through Skylights  Top Contributing Factor  Task not sufficiently planned (3)  Fall protection not used (3)  Lack of training (2)  Unguarded opening (2)  Victim fell through material over opening (2)  Lost balance, unexpected movement of walking surface, employee misconduct (1 each)  Top Contributing Factor  Task not sufficiently planned (3)  Fall protection not used (3)  Lack of training (2)  Unguarded opening (2)  Victim fell through material over opening (2)  Lost balance, unexpected movement of walking surface, employee misconduct (1 each)

Falls from Roofs  Construction Operation at time of fatality  Roofing (48)  Exterior carpentry (10)  Exterior masonry (4)  Exterior Painting (3)  Clean up (3)  Exterior cladding (1)  Construction Operation at time of fatality  Roofing (48)  Exterior carpentry (10)  Exterior masonry (4)  Exterior Painting (3)  Clean up (3)  Exterior cladding (1)

Falls from Roofs  Occupation of victim  Roofer (37)  Carpenter (13)  Laborer (8)  Painter (3)  Unknown (3)  Plasterer (2)  Supervisor/foreman (2)  Mason (1)  Sheet metal worker (1)  Occupation of victim  Roofer (37)  Carpenter (13)  Laborer (8)  Painter (3)  Unknown (3)  Plasterer (2)  Supervisor/foreman (2)  Mason (1)  Sheet metal worker (1)

Falls from Roofs  Victim activity at time of accident  Working on task (59)  Going to or from task (6)  Starting/ending work (4)  Taking a break (1)  Victim activity at time of accident  Working on task (59)  Going to or from task (6)  Starting/ending work (4)  Taking a break (1)

Falls from Roofs  Type of roof  Pitched (47)  Unknown (18)  Flat (5)  Type of roof  Pitched (47)  Unknown (18)  Flat (5)

Falls from Roofs  Fall distance  1 to 5 feet (1)  6 to 14 feet (13)  15 to 29 feet (39)  30 feet and above (17)  Fall distance  1 to 5 feet (1)  6 to 14 feet (13)  15 to 29 feet (39)  30 feet and above (17)

Falls from Ladders  Top contributing factor  Unexpected movement of ladder (21)  Lack of training (20)  Task not sufficiently planned (15)  Lost balance (13)  Improper use of ladder (11)  Incorrect ladder positioning (11)  Top contributing factor  Unexpected movement of ladder (21)  Lack of training (20)  Task not sufficiently planned (15)  Lost balance (13)  Improper use of ladder (11)  Incorrect ladder positioning (11)

Falls from Ladders  Top contributing factor (cont.)  Poor surface support for ladder (10)  Ladder not secured or extended 3 feet above landing (10)  Ladder not in proper condition (9)  Lack of daily safety inspection (8)  No competent person (7)  Top contributing factor (cont.)  Poor surface support for ladder (10)  Ladder not secured or extended 3 feet above landing (10)  Ladder not in proper condition (9)  Lack of daily safety inspection (8)  No competent person (7)

Falls from Ladders  Top contributing factor  Lost balance (14)  Lack of training (10)  Task not sufficiently planned (6)  Improper use of ladder (5)  Language barrier (4)  No competent person (4)  3 points of contact not followed (3)  Victim carrying or lifting material, incorrect ladder position, poor surface support (2 each)  Top contributing factor  Lost balance (14)  Lack of training (10)  Task not sufficiently planned (6)  Improper use of ladder (5)  Language barrier (4)  No competent person (4)  3 points of contact not followed (3)  Victim carrying or lifting material, incorrect ladder position, poor surface support (2 each)

Falls from Ladders  Construction operation  Roofing (10)  Exterior carpentry (9)  Exterior cladding (4)  Exterior painting (4)  Interior carpentry (4)  Installing interior walls, ceiling, or doors (4)  Installing HVAC (3)  Interior plumbing, ducting, electrical (2)  Interior paining, interior masonry, concrete forming, fireproofing (1 each)  Construction operation  Roofing (10)  Exterior carpentry (9)  Exterior cladding (4)  Exterior painting (4)  Interior carpentry (4)  Installing interior walls, ceiling, or doors (4)  Installing HVAC (3)  Interior plumbing, ducting, electrical (2)  Interior paining, interior masonry, concrete forming, fireproofing (1 each)

Falls from Ladders  Occupations  Laborer (12)  Carpenter (10)  Roofer (8)  Painter (5)  Drywaller (3)  Electrician, HVAC, supervisor, unknown (2 each)  Plumber, cable installer (1 each)  Occupations  Laborer (12)  Carpenter (10)  Roofer (8)  Painter (5)  Drywaller (3)  Electrician, HVAC, supervisor, unknown (2 each)  Plumber, cable installer (1 each)

General Observations  Leading contributing factors for falls from roofs and ladders  Lack of training  Work insufficiently planned  Lost balance  Leading contributing factors for falls from roofs and ladders  Lack of training  Work insufficiently planned  Lost balance

Study Concerns  Lack of information in inspection case files  Adequacy of the employers safety and health plans  Insufficient information on the role of language barriers – were language issues a contributing factor  Information on job tenure would add to the value of the data in the case file  Lack of information in inspection case files  Adequacy of the employers safety and health plans  Insufficient information on the role of language barriers – were language issues a contributing factor  Information on job tenure would add to the value of the data in the case file

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