Oregon FACE Toolbox Talk: Falls Down Elevator Shaft
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Oregon FACE Toolbox Talks
This series of four toolbox talks was created by Oregon Health and Science University based on Oregon FACE fatality reports.
Documents
- Oregon FACE Toolbox Talk: Load of Lumber Shifts
- Oregon FACE Toolbox Talk: Falls Down Elevator Shaft
- Oregon FACE Toolbox Talk: Roofing Materials
- Oregon FACE Toolbox Talk: Fall from Scaffold
- Toolbox Talk: Construction Worker Dies When He Leans Out of the Protective Cage of a Skid Steer Forklift and is Crushed
- Mechanic Killed Pouring Gasoline on Fire
- Auto Salvage Worker Killed by Unsecured Car on Transporter
Summary Statement
This OR-FACE toolbox talk centers on a 41-year-old construction worker who fell 23 feet down an elevator shaft and died during the construction of a new home. The prevention tips:
- Install guardrails, covers, or safety nets to block openings or edges that are over 6 feet above the ground, like unfinished stairwells.
- Wear a fall arrest system if working near a fall hazard 6 feet off the ground.
- Know your location so you can give an address or directions to emergency responders if needed.
March 2013
- Install guardrails, covers, or nets to block openings
- Wear fall arrest system when required
- Know location in case of emergency
Toolbox Talk Guide
Home Construction Worker Falls Down Elevator Shaft
INSTRUCTIONS: Make the "Fatal Hazard" Warning Sign visible to your crew before reading the following story.
Our safety talk today is about a 41-year-old construction worker from another company who fell 23 feet down an elevator shaft and died during the construction of a new home. Some workers had removed the guardrails around the elevator shaft so they could pass joists through it. The victim later fell down the elevator shaft where he was found bleeding from his head. One of the workers called 911, but didn’t know the address, which delayed emergency response time and the victim died at the site.
Here are some ways we can prevent something like this from happening where we work.
- Install guardrails, covers, or safety nets to block openings or edges that are over 6 feet above the ground, like unfinished stairwells.
- Wear a fall arrest system if working near a fall hazard 6 feet off the ground.
- Know your location so you can give an address or directions to emergency responders if needed.
ASK: “Does anyone have more ideas or comments to share?” Pause for discussion. Then see if there are ways to take action.
END WITH ACTION PLAN (ideas for what to ask or say).
- “Are there any unguarded floor openings at our site that we might have missed in safety inspections that could be corrected today?”
- “Are there other fall hazards we could fix or make less dangerous?”
- “What do you all do if you need to access a floor opening like this?”
- Discuss a similar condition at your current site, or your emergency medical plan.
- Express your commitment to providing fall protection training and gear.
- Commit to follow-up at the next safety talk.
