FATALITY NARRATIVE

• Industry: Roofing Contractors
• Occupation: Roofing Contractor
• Task: Nailing down roofing materials
• Type of Incident: Fall from roof
• Release Date: October 6, 2016
• SHARP Report No.: 71-151-2016

In September of 2015, a 34-year-old roofing contractor died after falling 25 feet from a church roof.  The father and son roofing company had been subcontracted to complete the roof on a newly constructed church.  They were the only workers on-site, both were experienced roofers.  It was a low pitch roof with a 1 in 12 slope and the weather was sunny. Both men were on the roof, the victim was working on the edge of the roof nailing down roofing materials.  When the father looked up from his work he did not see his son.  He went to the side of the roof where his son had been working and looked down to see his son bleeding on the sidewalk below, he had fallen 25 feet from the roof’s edge.  The father attempted CPR and called 911.  First responders arrived and declared the victim deceased. Neither of the roofers were using fall protection, nor was there any fall-protection in place on the roof or on-site.

There have been 63 Washington construction worker fatalities caused by falls between 2000 & 2015, over half were roof related falls according to Washington Labor & Industries.

These narratives are developed by the Washington State Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program and the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, WA State Dept. of Labor & Industries to alert employers and employees of a tragic loss of life of a worker in Washington State and in effort to prevent future tragedies.

Falls are the number one cause of work related fatalities in the country. Proper fall protection may seem like a hassle, but it is an essential component in ensuring employee safety. If you are in need of fall protection training, are having trouble acquiring fall protection, or are in need of consultation on the issue, feel free to contact The Integrated Group at 425-822-8500 or info@theintegratedgroup.com.