New Jersey Man Struck, Killed by Falling Tape Measure

[Renew Deal]

A man delivering sheet rock to a construction site was killed Monday when a tape measure fell 50 stories and hit him on the head, authorities said.

A spokeswoman for Jersey City's department of public safety said the accident occurred shortly before 9 a.m. in the city's downtown area.

The 1-pound tape measure became dislodged from the belt of a worker on the 50th floor and struck construction equipment about 10 to 15 feet from the ground, spokeswoman Carly Baldwin said. It then ricocheted and struck 58-year-old Gary Anderson, who had just stopped to speak with another worker who was in a pickup truck.

Anderson, of Somerdale in southern New Jersey, was taken to a hospital, where he died shortly before 10 a.m.

Anderson wasn't wearing a hard hat but had one in his truck at the time, according to the police report.
<snip>

http://www.people.com/article/falling-tape-measure-kills-man

I've heard from friends in construction that they get fired on the spot for not wearing hard hats. This must be the reason why.

[badtoworse]

1. This is tragic, but hopefully, it will be a lesson to folks that work in hazardous areas.

Use your Personal Protection Equipment ("PPE&quot . If this guy were wearing his hard hat, he'd probably still be alive

[titaniumsalute]

2. you ALWAYS wear a hard hat in a construction site

This is EXACTLY why. You could argue that it may or may not have helped in this situation. But most of the time it can help.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

3. Yep. That's the reason.

I have a residential construction business. We don't do outdoor work that requires scaffolds or big ladders. But don't ask me how I know how much it hurts to have a hammer left on the top of a 8 foot ladder fall on your head when you forget it's there and move the ladder.

[PeteSelman]

4. We don't get fired on the spot for not wearing one.

At least I wouldn't, I'm union.

But we have safety coordinators constantly walking around breaking balls about them and safety glasses. They're so annoyingly militant about it that you just keep them on to shut them up.

If you constantly ignore the regs though you'll be suspended for a day, three for a second violation and finally removed from the job for a third.

This guy did himself a disservice by not wearing his. It might, might have saved him.

[JI7]

5. just a few seconds or inches

Difference and he would still be here. shows
how important it is to wear the hats at all times.

[Lochloosa]

6. Our company is fanatic about safety. And that's a good thing

And this a huge privately owned company.

Every meeting or telephone conference opens with a safety message. And you had better be prepared if your name is called to give it.

[mindwalker_i]

7. If he had lived

He might have become an absolute ruler.