Recently, a 27-year-old Peekskill man, an employee of John’s Home Improvement in Yonkers, fell from the roof of the Four Seasons Sunroom and Windows, located in Holbrook, New York. He was taken to Long Island Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. It is too early to determine the actual cause of this accident, but the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating. https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/2021/01/19/peekskill-worker-yonkers-company-dies-long-island-roof-fall
Although a horrific accident, the unfortunate fact is that falls from roofs account for one-third of all construction fall fatalities. The Center for Construction Research and Training Data Center’s study on this subject reported that workers in the roofing industry are three times more likely to experience fatal work-related injuries than other construction workers. The study concluded that “All roofing contractors should have a written fall protection program that specifies what type of fall protection is provided, provides adequate training for workers, and enforces fall protection programs.” Since falls are one of the “fatal four” causes of death to construction workers, it is important that employers provide the required safety protections. Failing to put into place fall protection systems and guard rail systems, can result in a fall from dangerous heights with deadly results.
