Inspection Detail

Inspection: 309512150 - Fridley'S Communications Dba Business Cell Systems

Inspection Information - Office: Nc Department Of Labor - Winston-Salem

Investigation Summary

On February 9, 2006, Employee #1, an owner of Business Cell Systems and another employee, a son of the owner, arrived to Thomasville, North Carolina, shortly after lunch. Employee #1 proceeded to put on his climbing equipment. Another employee was inside the building, working on wiring of a photo cell, which needed replacement. Another employee went through a gate to enter the tower area, as Employee #1 was descending the ladder and approaching ground level after installing the photo cell. Another employee asked how Employee #1 was doing. Suddenly, he heard a noise, which he could not identify. When he looked to see what it was, he saw Employee #1 falling 15 ft to 20 ft to the ground and landing face down on a metal grate, at the bottom of the ladder. Another employee ran up to Employee #1 and turned him over. He saw Employee #1 bleeding from his head. Employee #1 was killed. He did not use a fall protection.

Keywords: CHEST, HEAD, BUILDING, LADDER, FALL PROTECTION, TOWER, WORK SURFACE