Carpenter Fell from the Roof of a Single Family Home Under Construction

SUMMARY

On November 29, 2010 a 45-year-old male carpenter (victim) was fatally injured when he fell from the roof of a two-story single family home that was under construction. The victim was erecting pipe staging (tubular scaffolding) at the time of the incident. Needing an additional plank for the scaffolding, the victim climbed onto the house's roof to access a plank on a roof bracket located at the roof's edge. When the victim reached the roof bracket, it collapsed causing the victim and the wood plank to fall approximately 19 feet to the ground below. Both the company owner and the co-worker heard the noise of the victim and the plank falling to the ground and went to the victim. The company owner placed a call for emergency medical services (EMS). Personnel from the local fire department, EMS, and police department arrived within minutes of the call. The victim was transported to a local hospital and then was transported to a larger hospital where he was pronounced dead five days later.

Carpenter Fell from the Roof of a Single Family Home Under Construction [PDF 560 KB]