Roofer dies after falling 50 feet from Redmond home

As  family of the man who died and as a long time friend of the man who lived please understand we our going thur a very tought time. I have talked to the man who is in the hospital my opinion is he will make it and be ok. As for Mike's family we are broken we need time to process. The person 777Dave there will be a Benefit fund set up next week I'll post where - soon !

I have been in the trade for 35 years Mike and I started together he was good at what he did.

 And to all mikes friends out there we know mike was larger than life . Love and miss you bro.

This is really sad.  Possibly one of the people who knew this man - could help establish a Benefit fund for his family.  And what about the guy who was seriously injured?  Did either of these guys have medical?  The one that's still alive needs healing as well.  So, let's donate some funds.  It is really the least we can do.  Plus, please remember both of these families in your prayers.

 

Since people are discussing "low bidders" and fall protection issues; and I myself posted earlier - possibly another small thing which can maybe come out of this - is Education.  Let's educate the public just a bit.

 

Generally, when a home is being completely re-roofed (tear off, etc.) - the contractor will then use Temporary, (but one time expensive) roofing fall protection equipment to keep his workers safe.  At least - with the removal of the exemption - that is where the industry is headed; and that is what very reputable contractors do...  Industry practice.

 

Since the exemption was just fairly recently removed; and fines are not that quickly issued against non compliance - it is going to take some time.  But, why don't we go FURTHER.  It is really necessary to GO FURTHER - if the industry is going to CHANGE.  And be SAFER for ALL.

 

I notice that people keep saying that you have the "tie on" & "tie off" issues when first going onto a roof.  TRUE.  But, you DON'T have to!  On roofing, painting jobs - Contractors need to stand as one voice - and start looking out for not only themselves - but people who will come after them.

 

Equipment exists that can be permanently installed - that allows for Stainless Fall restraint cable - to be installed from the roof - on down to the ladder positions.  Fall protection devices exist that can be installed under siding - so that painters, etc,. are also protected.

 

We really need to CHANGE the practices of the industry.  Unfortunately, this will take time; and it will be slow; but it can be done.  It starts with each one of us.

 

I am posting a couple of links to some websites which I am not in any way affiliated with.  Just in my work as a contractor (which I no longer do) - I became familiar with.  Researching how to keep safe; and keep employees safe; and install Fall Protection on homes without any...

 

The more safety and extensive a fall protection exists on a home - the more likely one is to use it.  Look, I've gone up on roofs NUMEROUS times without any fall protection.  WHY?  Because, it was just a quick repair; or just a quick 'overview' to get a look at the lay of the roof; or because the roof had no fall protection installed.  Numerous invalid reasons.  (EXCEPT for the one where the roof has no fall protection.  And numerous homes have NONE.)

 

But, we have to CHANGE that!  And the single point anchors which are going on up all over the place - are very useless.  Sure, they provide some increased safety - but the resultant pendulum danger as rope distance increases - makes them almost useless.

 

So, look at these systems.  Look at other systems.  When you put on a new roof - install extensive fall protection systems - so that using the proper equipment - no pendulum effect ever occurs - and workers are still free to easily move about on the roof or while painting the house, etc.  Are these MORE expensive to install?? YES.  Do they Benefit EVERYONE afterwards??  YES.  I mean - you can easily have Tie On cables going right to the edge of EVERY roof on any house (shed, peak, flat, etc.) so that a person can tie on - RIGHT at the ladder!

 

Yes, the person installing the system has some safety issues of course.  And, they can use the temporary systems which are currently being used.  And, Yes someone has to go up without gear to install the temporary.  But, when your all done - the temporary can be removed - while your still tied on and safe.  And then you walk down to your ladder; climb onto that; and then tie off from the now permanent installed system.

 

We have to do this in stages.  No One is going to pay $6K for a new roof so that a quick roof patch can be done.  And numerous contractors who are very experienced - are not going to insist (unfortunately) on installing even temporary roof fall protection - for a 1.5 hour cedar roof patch job...

 

But, the more true roof protection systems which are installed - the more opportunities to avoid the type of terrible death and injuries which just occurred.

 

We need people to be willing to change their attitudes about height, safety and injuries.  The Residential Contractor industry FOUGHT the OSHA change for years.  A change of attitude is required; and it starts with us. One person at a time.

 

Again, I am deeply sorrowful for this person's death and the injured worker.  If someone will post where to donate some funds - I will do so.  And, I hope that people READ about fall protection; and start encouraging homeowners to pay a bit more and get the extensive systems installed.  Don't donate your roofing labor.  Charge for the job.  But DONATE your LABOR to install an extensive system which has tie offs at the ladder positions; which benefit everyone for years down the road - and help prevent future tragedies.  And as more contractors insist on installing these extensive systems - rather than just single point tie offs; or the temporary ones used by your employees - the prices will come down....  The following are just a couple of links to give you some ideas.  God Bless.

 

http://www.bestmaterials.com/PDF_Files/Skyhook_rec_Layout.pdf

 

http://www.bestmaterials.com/PDF_Files/guardian-catalog.pdf

 

http://www.bestmaterials.com/PDF_Files/super-anchor-catalog.pdf

 

These are not the be all and end all.  A combination of fall protection anchors is truly needed on every home.  I've seen some really cool anchor points on a German website....

 

And again - please post where to donate some funds, or how we can help these two families.

 

Regards,

David

 

 

The man that died was a good friend of mine.  He was a very experienced, licensed, bonded and insured roofer. He was never the low bidder.  If he was up there, he was either helping someone or tking care of something nobody else would.  As for safety, you have to get off your ladder to tie off, if your using existing achors, you have to climb the roof to get to it, and down the roof when your done.  You can't walk on the roof without Korkers. He had them. This was a horrible tragety and a great loss to his family friends.  So hold your tounge  if you ont know what your talking about 

This is too sad.

I just want to know one thing- did the homeowner take the lowest bid for this repair? There is a reason some contractors bid low, people. Doing business properly costs a certain amount of money and the bid reflects this.

I'm saddened by a story like this. Fall protection safety costs money. The bottom line is some contractors choose not to properly train their employees and implement the program.They figure they'll take the chance of not getting caught or take a chance maybe nothing will happen. A contractor who is compliant  can't be competitive on a bid with one who is not. It's too bad a homeowner doesn't recognize this and perhaps help prevent such a thing to occur. This was not an accident rather a failure to use proper procedures. Just my humble opnion

Wood Shakes and Pacific North West spell disaster to anyone walking on them.

I was a licensed, general contractor - here in the Seattle area.  Did good work; lost money; no longer doing contractor work...

 

The Residential Fall Protection Exemption - was removed 7/1/2010   As of that date - ANY time a person (being paid in any fashion) is working on a home (other than the homeowner) at a height of 4 FEET or higher - fall protection is legally REQUIRED.  Period.

 

Hardly any contractor is doing this; and homeowners do not wish to pay for it...  We installed and replaced a water heater for a family.  (Emergency situation, etc.)  They of course liked our work...  (We did good work.)  Later in the year - he receives an advertisement for gutter cleaning.  This reminds him of my company; and he calls us up - to see if I would like to do the job...

 

I come on out and look again at the house.  Large, modern home - east side you can touch the roof standing on the ground at one point - West side has like a 35' drop...

 

Anyway - quite frankly - I DON'T like heights of almost any amount.  So, my company already had invested in fall protection.  Stainless steel cable arrest - with automatic reel in and out....  They are not cheap.  Around $400 a unit.

 

I tell him, I am willing to do the job.  But, I will have to install fall protection onto his roof.  He states that the person who did it the previous year didn't bother with that; and when they did the high side - they just tied a rope to their body; and then tied off to a Chimney.  I explained that they could hire that person back if they wanted; and tying a rope around your body means that IF you fall - you WILL be killed.  A person's body will now be in two pieces and kind of messy, and he can be sued etc.

 

Now, I don't like the single point lanyard tie offs.  Since they are basically useless.  They have to be very correctly installed; they are capable of only taking the fall shock load of 1 person; and as you move out and do work - you end up creating quite a pendulum length hazard.  But, they are legal.  But, they have significant disadvantages.

 

So, I gave this person (nice enough guy) - a bid to install a correct roof fall protection system.  Big, heavy plates mounted at the peak of the roof - going over both sides of the peak; with special units when the roof was a "shed" type; all of the units being connected with a horizontal stainless lifeline cable - so that ANY worker in the future - can EASILY move about in the future on the roof - WITHOUT creating any hazardous pendulum situation.

 

I forget the total amount of this job.  It was not insignificant.  I believe it was around $1200.

 

I gave the bid to install this total system at absolutely MY COST.  NO mark up WHATSOEVER.  FREE LABOR to install it.  All of my work was still warranted, etc.  I then added $100 total - to CLEAN the gutters.

 

And figured that the following year - I could clean the gutters at a normal rate.  Course, then HE could clean the gutters (or anyone else) with proper gear - with NO safety problems.

 

I did not get the job.  Because it was too expensive.  He hired someone who did the work without fall protection.  That is the way the cookie crumbles.  We complain about everything coming from China; and then don't buy american - because it costs too much.  I worked for Bethlehem steel years ago - doing Electrical maintenance.  They no longer exist.  My first day on the job - I was told the work we were going to be doing - was a "3 hour" job - but we were going to make it take all day... and nothing the company could do - because the "Union" protected him...  Now, they don't exist anymore.

 

If your building a new home; OR if your having a new roof put on - spend the EXTRA - and get the expensive heavy duty fall protection plates installed. (They do require a minimum of 3/4" plywood base)  Have the lifeline stainless steel cable added.  NOW, you or anyone else can go up on that roof and be truly protected.  How much is it really going to add to the total cost of your roof.  However, I can guarantee you that most contractors are not even aware of the entire system; since they haven't researched it; and use temporary units which they then take with them.  This keeps the costs down to you; and then they have to come back.  Since no actual true fall protection anchor devices are installed on your roof - which do provide good protection.

 

As far as what happens when you initially go onto a roof?  Yes, that is a danger window which exists.  Tying on an Tying off.  Most falls do not happen during that time.  But, yes they can.  On the system which I was going to correctly retro install on this persons roof - to be safe cleaning the gutters - that system could take a grab line.  Which you fasten to when at the ladder; and then you are safe going up to the horizontal line - to get attached at that point.  But, all of this costs money; and people don't wan to pay.

 

It is VERY unfortunate that a person was seriously injured; and another person died from a roof fall yesterday.  And that is WHY OSHA removed the "Residential Fall Protection Exemption" on 7/1/2010.  Because of all the contractors over the years, and general laborers - who were being seriously injured or killed - just working on home owner roofs or gutters or painting.  When was the last time you saw a PAINTER wearing fall protection??  But, per current regulations - it is illegal for ANY person (other than the homeowner) - to be working on your property - more than 4 FEET off the ground - WITHOUT fall protection.

 

Blessings to you all.  My prayers to these and others who have been recently injured or are hurting.

 

David

A horrible thing to have happen.  Can you imagine the thoughts going through the workers' minds as they fell?  My condolences to the family of the dead worker.

My thoughts and heart go out to his family and friends, such very sad news. 

What a tragedy for that man's family.  So sorry to hear this - analyzing it after someone has died doesn't do any good.

Every homeowner MUST ensure that each contractor or subcontractor they hire is fully licensed, bonded, and insured.  Otherwise the homeowner would be liable for injuries such as this, even if they were not home.  I also suggest searching the L&I database for the contractor principal's names and even similar names to see if the contractor had a previous license and has unpaid judgements against them.  There are an amazing number of contractors out there who ran into financial or legal troubles and simply re-organized under a new name with a clean slate.  Also be sure to get at least three references of previous work and go to those sites and talk to the homeowners.  Hiring a contractor is serious stuff.

Come on people,a man DIED, leaving family and friends devastated...if you make snarky/unkind/nasty,bigoted comments on a story such as this, you are a miserable excuse for a human being.

DEC212012t   What  kind of nasty comment was that! My son works for that man and their family and friends are  devastated.He was a respected businessman and safety always came first! We don't know all of the details yet, but my son told me it was a very steep pitch and difficult job, Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Quick Jose......... Get up and run man!

wearing corkers (crampon-like shoe addendum) and safety harness would've stopped this. always safety   the homeowner can be responsible for this too if there was no general contractor on board-  check 'Stute' laws

Aren't safety harnesses a requirement these days? We bought harnesses just to put the Christmas lights up. And every roof does have lanyard hooks...or at least those 15 years or newer do. 

What a tragedy for both men and their families.  Condolences to the family of the deceased and a speedy recovery to the injured worker.

Good Lord, that's 5 stories! Who owns a home that needs it's own elevator?  My condolances to the family and wishes for a speedy recovery for his partner.