| Case Name |
A worker fell from the opening which was hidden by snow. |
| Pictograph |
|
| Date |
February 10, 2001 |
| Place |
Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture |
| Location |
The construction site in Hachinohe City |
| Overview |
At the construction site in Hachinohe City, a worker who was removing the snow fell from the opening which was hidden by snow. |
| Incident |
Though he intended to remove the snow in order to fix the opening of the roof (about 80cm square) which had been already fixed by the sheet as countermeasures against snow, he misjudged the place of the opening since it was covered by snow. |
| Sequence |
* On the previous day, the victim carried out the sheet fixing for the opening as a countermeasure against snow, and the A-type barrier as an opening mark was installed and he finished his work.
* There was a snow storm on the day, and the work was stopped after removing the snow from the alley ways since it would not stop snowing.
* The victim thought that the sheet fixing which had been carried out on the previous day was insufficient, and he intended to reinforce the fixing of the opening after the snow removal of this work.
* Though the A-type barrier was installed near the opening as a mark, he could not distinguish the accurate position of the opening and he fell from the opening which became like a pitfall, and he died. |
| Cause |
* The sheet fixing of the opening was a countermeasure to prevent falling object, and it was not an effective measure to prevent a worker falling.
* When the work was arranged to stop after the snow was removed from the alley ways, there was no indication which would prohibit the entry to the place because of a high risk of falling.
* The countermeasure against snow was insufficient. |
| Countermeasures |
* For the fixing of the opening with a high risk of falling, the measures to prevent falling must surely be taken.
* Near the opening which becomes like a blindfold due to the snow, the entry prohibition must be known to everybody. |
| Knowledge Comment |
* The danger of snow coverage might be forgotten even by the people living in the snow country who are used to being around snow.
* As the dangerous factors, snow coverage and freezing and changes of the weather are important problems in terms of the safety countermeasure.
* The worker must keep in mind that the company must take the responsibility even if the imperfection of the safety measures is caused by a worker and he is injured. |
| Background |
* Since the site was located in the snowy district, the worker was accustomed to remove snow, but it might happen that he made a misjudgement due to habituation. |
| Sequel |
* The Labor Standards Inspection Office gave prosecutors the files on both the contractor and the subcontractor for neglect of the necessary measures to prevent a labor disaster, and they were punished under the Industrial Safety and Health Law. |
| Scenario |
| Primary Scenario
|
Poor Response to Change in Environment, Change in Environment, Poor Value Perception, Poor Safety Awareness, Non-Regular Movement, Movement During Transition, Non-Regular Action, Change, Bodily Harm, Harm to Physical Well-being, Bodily Harm, Death
|
|
| Number of Deaths |
1 |
| Number of Injuries |
0 |
| Physical Damage |
It is slight. |
| Financial Cost |
It has not been measured yet. |
| Economic Loss |
It has not been measured yet. |
| Consequences |
There was no report in the media. |
| Field |
Civil Engineering
|
| Author |
NONAKA, Tadashi (Japan Civil Engineering Contractors' Association)
|
