Workplace suicide - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

jmiley · 08-25-2009, 10:46 AM

Does a suicide on my commercial jobsite need to be reported to OSHA?

I know orkplace deaths do, and accidents involving 3 or more people do.

But a guy came onto my jobsite and hung himself using the temporary lighting and the electricians ladders that were chained to a column.

There is a fence around the property and this is a remodel and the building is open.

I wish the guy would have done this somewhere else, but now it is something I have to deal with, the M.E. and police have already did their thing and hauled the guy away.

The job is in Florida, if that means anything.

SelfContract · 08-25-2009, 10:56 AM

In this order sir:

First, police tape & investigation, & no one can be around until examination of body & evidences collected;

Second, OHSA, landlords, and all contractors involved will be contacted, interviewed, and questioned of circumstance evidences & anyone involved, etc;

Third, family members (of death guys) will be notified & could sue all parties for neligence (if they wish??)

Fourth, death/life insurance companies will investigate (if any foul play?), etc., and will sue back family and/or other contractors (for neligence, frauds, etc.) if claimed frivolous, etc.

Fifth, criminal prosecution by police can proceed if any hints of homicide acts by others, etc.

jmiley · 08-25-2009, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SelfContract

In this order sir:

First, police tape & investigation, & no one can be around until examination of body & evidences collected;

Second, OHSA, landlords, and all contractors involved will be contacted, interviewed, and questioned of circumstance evidences & anyone involved, etc;

Third, family members (of death guys) will be notified & could sue all parties for neligence (if they wish??)

Fourth, death/life insurance companies will investigate (if any foul play?), etc., and will sue back family and/or other contractors (for neligence, frauds, etc.) if claimed frivolous, etc.

Fifth, criminal prosecution by police can proceed if any hints of homicide acts by others, etc.

The Police were called and they came out,the Fire deapartment came out, the detectives showed up, the Crime Scene Investigator came out, the M.E. came out, EMS came out, they took pictures and made measurements, and then had my electrician cut him loose and they hauled the person away.

I just wasn't sure if I had to call OSHA, but am thinking I will just to cover all the bases.

The person wasn't there for very long and as far as I know I am in compliance with all OSHA regulations.

cleveman · 08-25-2009, 12:30 PM

How did you determine that an electrician should cut the guy down?

What did you pay the electrician for this?

curiouscanuck · 08-25-2009, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cleveman

How did you determine that an electrician should cut the guy down?

What did you pay the electrician for this?

Ya, I've worked EMS on and off for over 14 yrs. can't believe they asked the guy to do this... Around here it would be the
police and the Coroners office that would handle it with EMS as extra hands, if it was technical (as this may well be) to do then Fire would do it.

Matt

Celtic · 08-25-2009, 01:58 PM

I would not be cutting ANY dead guy off my wires.

Safety Guy · 08-25-2009, 02:05 PM

It sounds like you handled everything correctly. It is the ordinance of the local police, coroner.... However, a courtesy call to OSHA would be in your best interest and they too will tell you that it is not an OSHA concern, yet you have CYA.
God Bless all parties involved in this tragedy.

jmiley · 08-25-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cleveman

How did you determine that an electrician should cut the guy down?

What did you pay the electrician for this?

I am not the one who had the electricain cut the guy down, I am not sure who asked him to do it.

Since the elctrician is not an employee of mine, I am not sure if he was paid extra to do this or not, he didn't seem to be bothered by it.

jmiley · 08-25-2009, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Safety Guy

It sounds like you handled everything correctly. It is the ordinance of the local police, coroner.... However, a courtesy call to OSHA would be in your best interest and they too will tell you that it is not an OSHA concern, yet you have CYA.
God Bless all parties involved in this tragedy.

I called OSHA and they said since the guy was not an employee of mine that there was nothing to report.

They took down my name to make a record of the call.

My lead framer saw the guy and said he didn't recognize him as any of the people who worked for us in the past or had stopped by looking for a job.

I didn't look at the guy since I figured nothing good could come from it.

wallmaxx · 08-26-2009, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmiley

Does a suicide on my commercial jobsite need to be reported to OSHA?

I know orkplace deaths do, and accidents involving 3 or more people do.

But a guy came onto my jobsite and hung himself using the temporary lighting and the electricians ladders that were chained to a column.

There is a fence around the property and this is a remodel and the building is open.

I wish the guy would have done this somewhere else, but now it is something I have to deal with, the M.E. and police have already did their thing and hauled the guy away.

The job is in Florida, if that means anything.

wow. Not something I have ever considered having to deal with. I've wanted to string up a few GCs or HOs...but that was just BS talk.

The investigation will probably want to determine if any of the equipment on the site was stored in such a way as to easily facilitate this action. Some bureaucrat will write a 60 page booklet for nationwide release to be read at all tool box talks.

It is never wrong to just ask the OSHA peeps if they need to know. You did nothing wrong - you didn't off the guy.

Good luck.

slowforthecones · 08-26-2009, 03:33 AM

Hell I would go even as far as to deduct from that guy's paycheck what's still owed on his final check or sue his estate for time lost or liquidated damages if possible. Out here in California, certain ethnic groups would be quite upset to learn their new home or business structure they paid for was the place of a suicide. You should be shamed for hiring a homicidal and suicidal pig that ruins your reputation.

jmiley · 08-26-2009, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowforthecones

Hell I would go even as far as to deduct from that guy's paycheck what's still owed on his final check or sue his estate for time lost or liquidated damages if possible. Out here in California, certain ethnic groups would be quite upset to learn their new home or business structure they paid for was the place of a suicide. You should be shamed for hiring a homicidal and suicidal pig that ruins your reputation.

The guy that committed suicide did not work for me or any of the subs, the job site is on a major highway in a large city, the guy just picked this place to do it.

This guy was a total stranger that in no way was affiliated with me, my company, my subs or the owner of the builiding that I am doing the work for.

mics_54 · 08-26-2009, 12:20 PM

Why would OSHA be involved in a NONemployee/worker suicide???

I'm not saying they won't be...I just can't see why they would....but then govt sucks that way.

I'm guessing technically this isnt a "workplace suicide"

slowforthecones · 08-26-2009, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmiley

The guy that committed suicide did not work for me or any of the subs, the job site is on a major highway in a large city, the guy just picked this place to do it.

This guy was a total stranger that in no way was affiliated with me, my company, my subs or the owner of the builiding that I am doing the work for.

Good to hear your reputation was not harmed... man I've seen plenty of death before but never a suicide at a worksite. That must top the list of a reason customers would sue me like crazy on a home site i'm building if it were to happen.

SteraClean · 09-04-2009, 11:45 AM

jmiley - I think you handled everything pretty well. Since the guy was not affiliated with you or this jobsite in anyway you should be out of harms way for any lawsuit for delay of job. Just be glad the guy hung himself and there was no mess! I do trauma site remediation and cleaning up one can be very costly and delay your job for a short period. In that type of situation the cost would have been covered by the property owner!

Sorry you had to deal with that though...It can be very disturbing...

http://www.steraclean.com is my website if you ever come accross a situation you need a trained professional to clean-up!

Scott
Stera Clean