Workers Killed in Falls Through Decking Holes

Case 1: An employee fell from about the 60-foot level of a manufacturing facility where he was doing steel erection. He had just completed bolting up a vertical beam, and was attempting to disconnect the hoisting line, when he apparently backed into a floor opening in the metal decking on which he was standing. Guardrails had been manufactured for the opening but would not fit, and had been taken down to the ground for modification. The employee died of his injuries.  Case 2: At around 10:00 a.m. on January 31, a steelworker was involved in metal decking installation. He fell approximately 20 feet through a roof opening to the ground floor, sustained multiple body injuries, and died the following day.  Case 3: An employee for a steel erection company was helping to build an elevated automobile ramp. He was covering an opening on the ramp with metal decking when he fell about 42 feet through the opening and was killed. He was not using fall protection.