This is a cross-post from Barbara Materna, chief, Occupational Health Branch (OHB), California Department of Public Health.

Hans Petersen said goodbye to his roommate and left for work to install solar panels. Hans didn’t return from work that day. He died on the job when he stepped backward off an apartment building roof and fell 45 feet. 

OHB’s California Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program created a four-minute “digital story” (see video above) to explain the tragic events that led to Petersen’s fatal fall and what could have been done to prevent it. The video honors Petersen’s memory and encourages residential solar and construction contractors and workers to work safely and use the right equipment. The California FACE program has investigated the deaths of three solar installers. Links to complete fatality investigation reports, this video and bilingual fact sheets can be found on the FACE solar safety page.

The California FACE program has investigated the deaths of three solar installers. Links to complete fatality investigation reports, this video and bilingual fact sheets can be found on the FACE solar safety page.

Falls are the leading cause of construction fatalities, accounting for one-third of on-the-job injury deaths in the construction industry. This video is released as part of a national falls prevention campaign launched in advance of Workers Memorial Day, April 28. Workers Memorial Day events commemorate workers who gave their lives for their work and highlight efforts to prevent workplace deaths.

• See http://socalcosh.org for details on two Los Angeles events: the April 26 Workers Health & Safety Action Summit with U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and the April 28 Workers Memorial Day Commemoration.
• See http://bit.ly/Memorial-2012 for details on the Oakland April 27 Workers Memorial Day Commemoration.
• See www.stopconstructionfalls.com (live on April 26) for more on the national falls prevention campaign.

We appreciate your feedback! To evaluate the FACE solar video, please complete this short form: www.surveymonkey.com/s/SolarVideo. To sign up to receive future FACE fatality reports: www.surveymonkey.com/s/FACESign-up.