Fatal Roof and Ladder Falls in Residential Construction: 2005 - 2007

Fatal Roof and Ladder Falls in Residential Construction: 2005 - 2007

Richard Fairfax, CIH

Director

Enforcement Programs

Richard Fairfax, CIH

Director

Enforcement Programs

Data & Information SourceData & Information Source

Construction Industry Research and Policy Center University of Tennessee September 2009 Contract No. J089F26523 Prepared for the U.S. Department of Labor –

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Construction Industry Research and Policy Center University of Tennessee September 2009 Contract No. J089F26523 Prepared for the U.S. Department of Labor –

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OverviewOverview

Falls dominate fatalities in construction with falls from/through roofs and falls from and with ladders are of prime importance

Study was based on 2005 through 2007 OSHA inspection case files looking at 116 residential roof/ladder falls

Falls dominate fatalities in construction with falls from/through roofs and falls from and with ladders are of prime importance

Study was based on 2005 through 2007 OSHA inspection case files looking at 116 residential roof/ladder falls

OverviewOverview

Falls from Roofs 80% were falls from the roof rather than

through the roof Leading factors

Fall protection not used Lack of training Insufficient task planning

Falls from Roofs 80% were falls from the roof rather than

through the roof Leading factors

Fall protection not used Lack of training Insufficient task planning

OverviewOverview

Falls from Roofs 80 percent were roofers Approximately 20% were carpenters

Over 80% of these falls showed that there was no safety plan or that the safety plan was incomplete

Falls from Roofs 80 percent were roofers Approximately 20% were carpenters

Over 80% of these falls showed that there was no safety plan or that the safety plan was incomplete

OverviewOverview

Falls from ladders Leading factors

Lack of training The task was insufficiently planned

Top contributing factor Unexpected movement of the working surface

(ladder)

Falls from ladders Leading factors

Lack of training The task was insufficiently planned

Top contributing factor Unexpected movement of the working surface

(ladder)

OverviewOverview

Falls from ladders

Laborers and carpenters experienced more frequent fatalities than did roofers

Falls from ladders

Laborers and carpenters experienced more frequent fatalities than did roofers

Falls from RoofsFalls from Roofs

Fatal Event Fall from the roof (61)

Fall through roof opening (6)

Fall through skylight (3)

Fatal Event Fall from the roof (61)

Fall through roof opening (6)

Fall through skylight (3)

Falls from RoofsFalls from Roofs

Top contributing factor Fall protection not used (56) Lack of training (44) Task not sufficiently planned (43) Lost balance (30) Lack of concentration (21) Slipped and tripped while moving (21)

Top contributing factor Fall protection not used (56) Lack of training (44) Task not sufficiently planned (43) Lost balance (30) Lack of concentration (21) Slipped and tripped while moving (21)

Falls from RoofsFalls from Roofs

Top contributing factor (cont.)

Employer did not provide fall protection (16) Misjudge of roof edge (14) Language barrier (12) No competent person (11) Lack of daily safety inspection (11)

Top contributing factor (cont.)

Employer did not provide fall protection (16) Misjudge of roof edge (14) Language barrier (12) No competent person (11) Lack of daily safety inspection (11)

Falls through Roof OpeningsFalls through Roof Openings

Top contributing factor Task not sufficiently planned (6) Lack of training (5) Fall protection not used (5) Victim fell through material over opening (5) Lack of concentration (3) Unguarded opening (3) Slipped/tripped while moving (2)

Top contributing factor Task not sufficiently planned (6) Lack of training (5) Fall protection not used (5) Victim fell through material over opening (5) Lack of concentration (3) Unguarded opening (3) Slipped/tripped while moving (2)

Falls through SkylightsFalls through Skylights

Top Contributing Factor Task not sufficiently planned (3) Fall protection not used (3) Lack of training (2) Unguarded opening (2) Victim fell through material over opening (2) Lost balance, unexpected movement of walking

surface, employee misconduct (1 each)

Top Contributing Factor Task not sufficiently planned (3) Fall protection not used (3) Lack of training (2) Unguarded opening (2) Victim fell through material over opening (2) Lost balance, unexpected movement of walking

surface, employee misconduct (1 each)

Falls from RoofsFalls from Roofs

Construction Operation at time of fatality Roofing (48) Exterior carpentry (10) Exterior masonry (4) Exterior Painting (3) Clean up (3) Exterior cladding (1)

Construction Operation at time of fatality Roofing (48) Exterior carpentry (10) Exterior masonry (4) Exterior Painting (3) Clean up (3) Exterior cladding (1)

Falls from RoofsFalls from Roofs

Occupation of victim Roofer (37) Carpenter (13) Laborer (8) Painter (3) Unknown (3) Plasterer (2) Supervisor/foreman (2) Mason (1) Sheet metal worker (1)

Occupation of victim Roofer (37) Carpenter (13) Laborer (8) Painter (3) Unknown (3) Plasterer (2) Supervisor/foreman (2) Mason (1) Sheet metal worker (1)

Falls from RoofsFalls from Roofs

Victim activity at time of accident Working on task (59) Going to or from task (6) Starting/ending work (4) Taking a break (1)

Victim activity at time of accident Working on task (59) Going to or from task (6) Starting/ending work (4) Taking a break (1)

Falls from RoofsFalls from Roofs

Type of roof Pitched (47) Unknown (18) Flat (5)

Type of roof Pitched (47) Unknown (18) Flat (5)

Falls from RoofsFalls from Roofs

Fall distance 1 to 5 feet (1) 6 to 14 feet (13) 15 to 29 feet (39) 30 feet and above (17)

Fall distance 1 to 5 feet (1) 6 to 14 feet (13) 15 to 29 feet (39) 30 feet and above (17)

Falls from LaddersFalls from Ladders

Top contributing factor Unexpected movement of ladder (21) Lack of training (20) Task not sufficiently planned (15) Lost balance (13) Improper use of ladder (11) Incorrect ladder positioning (11)

Top contributing factor Unexpected movement of ladder (21) Lack of training (20) Task not sufficiently planned (15) Lost balance (13) Improper use of ladder (11) Incorrect ladder positioning (11)

Falls from LaddersFalls from Ladders

Top contributing factor (cont.)

Poor surface support for ladder (10) Ladder not secured or extended 3 feet above

landing (10) Ladder not in proper condition (9) Lack of daily safety inspection (8) No competent person (7)

Top contributing factor (cont.)

Poor surface support for ladder (10) Ladder not secured or extended 3 feet above

landing (10) Ladder not in proper condition (9) Lack of daily safety inspection (8) No competent person (7)

Falls from LaddersFalls from Ladders

Top contributing factor Lost balance (14) Lack of training (10) Task not sufficiently planned (6) Improper use of ladder (5) Language barrier (4) No competent person (4) 3 points of contact not followed (3) Victim carrying or lifting material, incorrect ladder

position, poor surface support (2 each)

Top contributing factor Lost balance (14) Lack of training (10) Task not sufficiently planned (6) Improper use of ladder (5) Language barrier (4) No competent person (4) 3 points of contact not followed (3) Victim carrying or lifting material, incorrect ladder

position, poor surface support (2 each)

Falls from LaddersFalls from Ladders

Construction operation Roofing (10) Exterior carpentry (9) Exterior cladding (4) Exterior painting (4) Interior carpentry (4) Installing interior walls, ceiling, or doors (4) Installing HVAC (3) Interior plumbing, ducting, electrical (2) Interior paining, interior masonry, concrete forming,

fireproofing (1 each)

Construction operation Roofing (10) Exterior carpentry (9) Exterior cladding (4) Exterior painting (4) Interior carpentry (4) Installing interior walls, ceiling, or doors (4) Installing HVAC (3) Interior plumbing, ducting, electrical (2) Interior paining, interior masonry, concrete forming,

fireproofing (1 each)

Falls from LaddersFalls from Ladders

Occupations Laborer (12) Carpenter (10) Roofer (8) Painter (5) Drywaller (3) Electrician, HVAC, supervisor, unknown (2 each) Plumber, cable installer (1 each)

Occupations Laborer (12) Carpenter (10) Roofer (8) Painter (5) Drywaller (3) Electrician, HVAC, supervisor, unknown (2 each) Plumber, cable installer (1 each)

General ObservationsGeneral Observations

Leading contributing factors for falls from roofs and ladders

Lack of training Work insufficiently planned Lost balance

Leading contributing factors for falls from roofs and ladders

Lack of training Work insufficiently planned Lost balance

Study ConcernsStudy Concerns

Lack of information in inspection case files Adequacy of the employers safety and health

plans Insufficient information on the role of language

barriers – were language issues a contributing factor

Information on job tenure would add to the value of the data in the case file

Lack of information in inspection case files Adequacy of the employers safety and health

plans Insufficient information on the role of language

barriers – were language issues a contributing factor

Information on job tenure would add to the value of the data in the case file

QuestionsQuestions

??????????????????