Laborer Falls 55 to 75 Feet to the Ground While Spray Painting Grain Bins

The following report is the product of our Cooperative State partner and is presented here in its original unedited form from the state. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the individual Cooperative State partner and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

SUMMARY

On November 21, 2013, at 4:00pm, a 46-year-old painter, contracted to paint grain dryers at an agribusiness, fell 50 to 75 feet to his death. The victim was contracted through an outside vendor who had done previous work for the agribusiness. The agribusiness had suggested the contracted work begin in the spring, and the farmer was surprised when the vendor arrived in November. The weather was overcast, and it had rained the day before, when the vendor (two co-owners and two workers [one was the victim]) arrived at the worksite. The victim was shimmying down a grain spout holding a sprayer hose to paint a grain bin when he lost his grip and fell. He was not wearing any type of fall protection. One of the vendor co-owners heard a noise, went to investigate and found the victim lying on the concrete, unresponsive. The co-owner immediately dialed 911 at 4:00 pm. Emergency medical services arrived on the scene at 4:16 pm and assessed the victim as unresponsive with rapid shallow breathing. At 4:19 pm the victim was transported by helicopter to a local trauma center in the next state and pronounced dead at 7:35 pm.

Laborer Falls 50 to 75 Feet to the Ground While Spray Painting Grain Bins [PDF 737 KB]