OSHA recently wrapped up an investigation that stemmed from a September 2014 incident in Grand Island, Nebraska, where “a 42-year-old worker fell 16 feet to his death and a 25-year-old co-worker suffered serious injuries after their employer, Roeder Construction, failed to provide either man with fall protection as they worked on a roof,” according to an OSHA news release.

We extend our sympathies to the loved ones of the man who died, and thoughts for the best recovery possible go to the man who was hurt.

The incident occurred when “the two men were installing a heavy-duty, weatherproof tarpaulin on Sept. 15, 2014, on a residential home in Grand Island.” After one employee lost his balance, he started falling. Then “the second man tried to stop his co-workers fall, and the momentum carried both employees off the roof to the ground.”

“One worker died of his injuries two days later, while the second was treated and released from a local hospital with torn ligaments and bruising,” according to the news release. Though both employees had previous roofing-industry experience, each had been with the company for just over one month.

OSHA proposed fines of $7,600 to the company based in Kearney, Nebraska, for violations that included not providing fall protection or training employees in its use and “failing to report the workplace fatality within eight hours.”

For more information and resources, OSHA has an excellent website regarding its Fall Prevention Campaign. A site in Spanish is also available.

In addition, as was recently mentioned on the blog, it is always a good idea to contact an experienced lawyer if you have questions about a safety concern at your job. This website also has information about filing a complaint with OSHA.