Vermont Construction Worker’s Death Ruled Accidental
According to Burlington Free Press, a construction worker who fell to his death has been ruled an accident.
Burlington Press Free Press and the Fatal Construction Fall
According to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office, a construction worker at the University of Vermont fell and the cause of the wrongful death has been ruled as “accidental.” Dennis Longe, aged 61, of Jeffersonville, fell from scaffolding on the top floor of a seven-story building that was under construction at the University. His death certificate states that his death was caused by fractures and injuries that resulted from blunt force trauma of his torso. Longe was pronounced dead at the UVM Medical Center.
Information regarding how Longe fell, as well as whether he was taking the correct safety protocols have not yet been released. What is known is that he was wearing a harness at the time the incident occurred, but it was removed before Longe was taken to the Burlington hospital, according to Lianne Tuomey, Police Chief of the University of Vermont.
The company that Longe worked for is Engelberth Construction and the site that he was working on involved a new first-year residence hall on Central Campus in Burlington.
The University of Vermont Police, as well as the Vermont Occupational Health and Safety Administration, have both opened investigations concerning the fatal accident.
According to a university spokesman, the police do not have updates about the investigation.
Stephen Monahan of the Vermont Occupational Health and Safety Administration has stated that the administration does not comment on investigations that are still open. In an email Monahan stated, “information will be available when the investigation is closed”.
Construction Fall Statistics According to the Center for Construction Research and Training
• Falls are the number one cause of fatal injuries in construction
• Although overall fatalities declined in 2010, falls still caused 267 deaths in construction, accounting for about one-third of construction fatalities that year.
• Overall, 6,858 construction workers died from fall injuries between 1992 and 2010, about 360 deaths annually.
• From 2008 to 2010, the largest number of fatal falls (579 deaths) in construction occurred among Specialty Trade Contractors, but falls accounted for a larger proportion (48.7%, 135 deaths) of all fatalities in Residential Building Construction.
• Between 2008 and 2010, about 97% of fatal falls in construction resulted from falls to a lower level.
