Inspection Detail

Inspection: 126200013 - Eberhard

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Investigation Summary

On April 21, 2011 Employee #1 was working as a foreman for a construction company that specialized in roofing, waterproofing and construction management. Employee #1 arrived at the site with Coworker #1 that morning on a vacuum truck. They set up the equipment and started working. Their assigned task for the day involved removing gravel from the roof of the warehouse using the vacuum hose. They were working near a skylight, which was a plexiglass dome, and was not guarded by skylight screens, guardrails or rated covers, nor were the employees using any personal fall protection system. Coworker #2 arrived at the site several hours after work had begun. Coworker #2 helped Employee #1 on the roof by guiding the vacuum head to collect rocks while Employee #1 acted as a spotter and held the vacuum hose about 3 feet behind Coworker #2. Employee #1 lost his footing, and fell through the plexiglass skylight, and fell over 28 feet, and landed on a concrete floor. Employee #1 was killed from the impact of the fall. On the roof, Coworker #2 heard a crackling sound. When he turned around, he saw that Employee #1 had fallen through the skylight. Coworker #1 was sweeping around the HVAC unit and he could not see Employee #1 and Coworker #2. Coworker #2 came over to Coworker #1 and told him that Employee #1 had fallen through the skylight. They both went down to the ground level and went inside the warehouse where they found Employee #1 lying on the concrete floor. Coworker #2 called the general contractor's superintendent, who called emergency services. Paramedics arrived at the site and Employee #1 was transported to LA County USC Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Keywords: SKYLIGHT, ROOF, FALL, FALL PROTECTION