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Health, Safety & Environmental Bulletin No 083

K Parmentier – 27 March 2008

Fatal Fall

A contractor was recently killed when he fell from height whilst working on an ExxonMobil terminal.

The worker was carrying out work on a roof when he fell approx 52 feet to the ground. He was
wearing his harness, but had secured it to an anchor point which was insufficient to hold his weight; the
anchor point he used broke and was found on the ground next to him.

The worker was 44 years old and had been doing this type of work for several years, he is survived by a
wife and three children.

Work at height is the most common form of fatal injury and should be undertaken with great care and
thought. Do not get complacent and think this could never happen to you – it can.

When choosing an anchor point, always use a purpose made point wherever possible. If no purpose
made point is available, consider the following:

• Will it support my full weight if I fall?
• If possible, am I tied off safety overhead?
• How far will my lanyard stretch and what is directly below me if I should fall?
• Will anything cut or burn my lanyard?
• Have I tied off as close to my job as possible and can I still work safely?

Being safe depends on the choices we make everyday. The right choices can save lives. We want to
share safety information and help to raise industry awareness. Safety is not about getting one over on

the competition. We need to talk openly, share what we know and make the right choices.

If you have any queries regarding the Safety Bulletin content or require further information please
contact any staff member of Xmo Strata Ltd.