Solar installer dies after fall from home roof in Gurnee

What happened

A worker died after falling from the roof of a two-storey home in Gurnee while a crew was installing solar panels on a Friday afternoon, reported as 2 February 2024. Police and fire crews were called to the 2000 block of Liberty Lane shortly after 3:30 pm and found the man unresponsive but breathing. Paramedics took him to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Other crew members were working on the opposite side of the roof.

They did not see the fall but heard him strike the ground. At the time of reporting, the cause of the fall was unknown and police said foul play was not suspected. The Gurnee Police Department is investigating with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Contributing factors

The cause of the fall was not known at the time of reporting. The source reports that the man was part of a crew installing solar panels on the roof, and that other workers were on the roof but could not see him.

Lessons learned

1. Fall protection, including anchor points, harnesses and lanyards, should be planned and checked before any roof work on solar installations begins, not only once a fall has occurred.
2. Crews working on different sections of a roof should keep visual or verbal contact, so that a fall is noticed immediately.
3. Installers should have a rescue plan for roof work, because co-workers may not see a fall and an injured worker may need rapid recovery.

More lessons on electrical protection and isolation, worker safety and safe systems of work, from every incident on the register.

Source

lakemchenryscanner.com