Michigan has focused on preventing fatal falls in construction. From 2001-2006, 125 of 875 work-related deaths in Michigan were from falls, with 60% occurring in construction. Factors contributing to falls included inadequate training, lack of fall protection, and not following safe work practices. New legislation and technology, as well as education and outreach efforts, aim to address falls through continuing education, subcontractor safety programs, and promoting a safety culture. Investigations of falls help identify hazards and guide follow-up initiatives to prevent future incidents.

1. Michigan's Focus on
Fatal Falls: Factors,
Fixes, and Follow-up
Debra Chester, MS
MSU
Department of Medicine

2. MIFACE Investigation
06MI117
63 years old
Installing siding on
dormer
Used two 2-inch screws
instead of 16d nails in
roof brackets
North bracket failed or
fell from ladder
9-foot fall from roof
edge
Died 2 weeks later

3. Factors
Inadequate knowledge
– Did not use correct roof brackets
– Did not anchor appropriately
– Did not follow “best safe work practice”
No fall protection
No employee training
– Scaffold (bracket spacing > 8 ft, 2x6 inch planks
on side)
– Ladder (ladder not used properly)
No Safety Program

4. Work-Related Fatal Falls in
Michigan, 2001-2006
Overview
– 2001 to 2006: 875 work-
related deaths
– 125 (14.3%) of 875 work-
related deaths attributable
to falls
– 75 (60%) of 125 work-
related fatal falls occurred in
Construction (NAICS 23)

5. Number of Fatal Falls in
Michigan, 2001-2006
Construction 75
Manufacturing 11
Agriculture 8
Transportation/Warehousing 8
Arts/Enterainment/Recreation 4
Retail Trade 4
Educational Services 3
Admin/Support/Waste 3
Wholesale Trade 2
Accomm/Food Service 2
Prof/Scient/Tech Services 1
Finance/Insurance 1
Mining 1
Public Administration 1
Health Care/Social Assist 1
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

6. Age at Time of Fatal Fall,
Michigan, 2001-2006
25 23
20
Number of Deaths
20
16
15
11 11
10
10 9
8
6
5 4
3
2
1 1
0 0
0
0-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-89
Construction Non-Construction

7. Height of Fatal Fall,
Michigan, 2001-2006
25
21
19
20 17
Number of Falls
15 13 13
9
10 8 7
4 4 5
5 3 2
0
<10' 10'- 19' 20'- 29' 30'- 39' 40'- 49' 50 - 100+' UNK
100'
Construction Non-Construction

8. Construction Characterization of
Fatal Falls, Michigan, 2001-2006
1% 12%
7%
Construction of
Buildings
Heavy and Civil
Engineering
Specialty Trade
Unknown
80%

9. Fatal Falls by Specialty Trades,
Michigan, 2001-2006
Roofers 20
StrucSteel/Precast Conc 9
Painters 7
Framing 6
Other Contractors 4
Masonry 4
Plumbing/HVAC 4
Siding 2
Electricians 2
Poured Concrete 1
Finish Carpenter 1
0 5 10 15 20 25
Number of Falls

10. Fatal Falls… What Did They
Fall From? Michigan, 2001-2006
Roof Edge 19
Scaffold/Ladder 18
Others 6
Vehicle/Mach/Equip 8
Structural Steel 8
UNK 3
Unguarded Roof Opening 3
Ground/Floor 2
Cell Phone Tower 2
Wood Framing 2
Water Tower 2
Skylight 2
0 5 10 15 20
Number of Falls

11. N u m b er o f D eath s
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Ja
nu
ar
y
4
Fe
br
ua
r y
5
M
ar
ch
4
Ap
r il
4
M
ay
8
Ju
ne
7
Ju
ly
Month
5
Au
gu
Se st
7
pt
e m
be
r
8
Oc
to
be
r
Michigan, 2001-2006
No
Fatal Falls by Month,
14
ve
m
be
r
5
De
ce
m
be
r
4

12. Construction Fatal Falls in
Michigan, 2001-2006
Race:
– Black: 2 individuals
– White: 73 individuals
Ethnicity - Hispanic: 6 individuals
Gender:
– Male: 75 individuals
38 deaths: able to identify if
member of a construction union
and if firm had written safety
program.
– 5 individuals were union members
– 15 firms had written program

13. We Know What Works

14. Three Workers Hang Off High Rise
for an Hour After Scaffold Drops
Two workers hang outside
the 31-story M&I Plaza
building Downtown as a
firefighter descends to rescue
them. They and a third
worker were stranded when a
scaffold collapsed as they put
up a sign on the 28th floor. -
MIKE FENDER / The Star
IndyStar.com. Posted 8/15/08.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080815/LOCAL18/808150466

15. Fixes Are Available
Internet Fall Protection Plans:
– http://erd.dli.mt.gov/safetyhealth/brochures/fallprotect
planres.pdf
– http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_doc
ument?p_id=10927&p_table=STANDARDS
Guide to Developing a Fall Protection Program
– http://www.doa.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=667

16. Fixes
Continuing education of construction contractors
Oversight by general contractors
Subcontractors safety program/employee
training requirement
Courage to call out fellow workers about unsafe
work practices
Contractor trade groups educate public about
value of safety programs, builder designations,
etc vs. low bid

17. Follow-up
New Michigan Legislation (PA 155-158
of 2007)
– Require residential builder and
maintenance/alteration contractor to meet
continuing competency (CC) requirements.
60 hours pre-licensure coursework
Current license holders have varying CC
requirements

18. Follow-up
New Technology
– NIOSH newly developed guard rail system
Educational Outreach to employers who hire
non/limited-English speaking workers
– MIOSHA new job postings – desirable qualification
is bi-lingual ability
– MIOSHA trying to translate more educational
materials – budget constraints limiting effort
– OSHA Compliance Assistance – Hispanic
Workers

19. Fixes
Continuing education of construction contractors
Oversight by general contractors
Subcontractors safety program/employee
training requirement
Courage to call out fellow workers about unsafe
work practices
Contractor trade groups educate public about
value of safety programs, builder designations,
etc vs. low bid

20. Follow-up
MIOSHA Enforcement of Multi-employer
Worksites Instruction
– July 31, 2007
Clarified guidelines for conducting MIOSHA
compliance inspections at multi-employer
worksites
– Identified:
Creating contractor – caused hazardous condition
Exposing contractor – own employees are exposed
Correcting contractor – responsible for correcting hazard
Controlling contractor – general supervisory authority

21. Follow-up
MIOSHA Falls Prevention Outreach Initiative
– 8500 letters and educational materials sent
identified as having work activities in which
employees may be exposed to fall hazards
5000 to construction employers
3500 to manufacturing employers
– Objectives
Highlight the seriousness of fall protection
increase awareness of fall hazards within these
industries
highlight the need for appropriate fall protection
help ensure that employees receive the appropriate
training required by the MIOSHA Fall Protection Safety
standards.

22. MIFACE Investigation
07MI172
34 years old
Working for friend
who owned roofing
business
Roofing activities
Unwitnessed fall
Not using fall
protection
Died 5 days after
incident

23. Follow-up
MIFACE Outreach
– MIFACE Investigation Report 07MI172
citing the MIOSHA multi-employer worksite
document will be sent to all general
contractors, home builder associations,
and over 1200 roofing contractors in MI
– MIFACE will conduct a phone survey to
follow-up with representative number of
companies to gather additional information

24. Fixes
Continuing education of construction contractors
Oversight by general contractors
Subcontractors safety program/employee
training should be required
Courage to call out fellow workers about unsafe
work practices
Contractor trade groups educate public about
value of safety programs, builder designations,
etc vs. low bid

25. MIFACE Investigation
01MI094
31 years old
Painting under
bridge
Unsecured in lift
basket
Basket not properly
placed on forks of
rough terrain forklift

26. Safety Culture
Management looks the
other way when unsafe
actions are used
Fellow employees look
the other way when
unsafe actions are used
Who wants to correct the
unsafe actions of
“experienced”
employees?
But everyone wants a
safe workplace…

27. Fixes
Continuing education of construction contractors
Oversight by general contractors
Subcontractors safety program/employee
training should be required
Courage to call out fellow workers about unsafe
work practices
Contractor trade groups educate public about
value of safety programs, builder designations,
etc vs. low bid

28. Follow-up
Collaborated with MAHB to secure grant
funding to develop construction
standard/employee training CD/DVD
Unsuccessful grant, but MAHB entered an
alliance agreement with MIOSHA
– Outcomes:
CET promotion
Increased awareness of:
– How to develop H&S programs
– MIOSHA Construction S&H standards
– How regulations apply to residential construction
Co-sponsorship of MIOSHA workshops
Amicable working relationship

29. Questions?