UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Abstract: On July 24, 2012, Employee #1 was installing and nailing a metal 2 by 12-joist hanger underneath the fourth floor roof framing. The employee was working from a job built wooden scaffold constructed on the fourth floor exterior balcony walkway. The scaffold was built to allow the employees to work under the roof. There was 5 to 6 ft between the balcony floor and the bottom of the roof joists. A wooden guardrail system was in place along the length of the 4th floor balcony and along the exterior side of the elevated scaffold platform. Employee #1 unsecured the end of the top guardrail nearest the work being performed and let it drop down on to the scaffold. The opposite end of the guardrail was still attached. This created an unprotected open area along the exterior side of the scaffold where the employee was working. Employee #1 was on one knee along the unprotected edge of the scaffold. The employee proceeded to strike the 2 by 4 block with his hammer in an attempt to knock it out of the way. The block was struck multiple times. On the final strike, the block came free. The employee's momentum and force while swinging the hammer caused him to pitch forward through the open unprotected space along the exterior side of the scaffold. Employee #1 fell about 36 to 40 feet to the asphalt below. Emergency services were called. The employee was taken to the hospital, and later pronounced dead.