A young man was working as a welder at his weekend job. Situated on a platform approximately 17 feet above the concrete floor, he had been welding for about 15 minutes when he unexpectedly fell over the side.

There were no guardrails on the platform and the welder was not wearing a safety harness. The worker was unable to stop his fall and landed on the concrete floor. He was transported to a hospital where he died from his head injuries.

Second only to motor vehicle crashes, falls are the leading cause of deaths in North America. Potential for a serious injury is all too often underestimated when working at a height. Even a fall of three or four feet can have devastating results when landing on the neck or head.

The company was cited for not enforcing the safety regulations which required the worker to wear fall protection, such as safety harnesses or life lines. Ultimately you are responsible for ensuring your own safety. Wear proper protective gear as instructed, and remain alert to potential fall hazards.