Occupational Health Watch: April 2017
Spotlight on Skylight Falls for Workers Memorial Day
Skylights add natural sunlight to residential and commercial building interiors, but they can be hazardous to rooftop workers. From 2011-2015, eleven California workers died when they fell through skylights. The
California Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (CA/FACE) program investigated two of these fatal falls (Report 16CA005 ,
Report 11CA004) and produced a five-minute
digital story that explains how these tragedies can be prevented.
Each year on April 28,
Workers Memorial Day events commemorate those who have died on the job, and highlight efforts to prevent workplace deaths, illness and injury.
Falls continue to be a leading cause of workplace deaths in the construction industry for all workers. OHB encourages employers to join the
National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction on May 8-12.
OHB's
CA/FACE program provides prevention materials in
English and
Spanish.
Photo: A broken skylight where a person fell through while working on the roof.
Resources
Preventing Falls in Construction – CA/FACE web page
Workers Memorial Day Events
National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction
Email Occupational Health Watch (OHW@cdph.ca.gov) with feedback or change of address.