In San Diego OHSA recently issued a special order relating to the horrific stadium fall of a Qualcomm Stadium Worker from the press box. Six months ago a stadium worker was distributing programs in the press box near windows that did not have an adquate guardrail or barrier. He stumbled and tried to catch himself on the counter but hit a chair and was catapulted out the unguarded window to his death. OSHA’s Special Order says that the Qualcomm window openings “constitute a hazard to stadium workers” and has ordered guard rails be installed 42″ tall that will withstand 200 lbs of pressure.
In Texas OSHA cited a contractor for the fall of two workers at Cowboys Stadium. The two workers were performing maintenance work on a roof covered with frost when they slipped, fell, and slid the length of a football field into a gutter. They were knocked out, broke a leg and suffered back injuries as a result of the fall.
Predictably the press and contractors blamed the workers who were walking and working as carefully as possible. The premises was in a dangerous condition for workers and/or anyone walking there. The contractors, stadium, engineers, and/or architects operating without proper guarding should be questioned about the lack of safety devices in a civil setting.
Tags: Dangerous Conditions, OHSA, Stadium Worker