BMH, Inc.: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Oct 10, 2002 (fatal): Employee killed by fall from beam to concrete floor

On October 8, 2002, employees of BMH, Inc. were in the process of framing a buil ding located in Cornelius, North Carolina. The employees were framing the interi or walls, sheathing exterior walls, and sheathing a second floor prior to the ac cident. After returning from lunch, three employees were in the process of frami ng around a structural "I" beam for the entrance of the building. There were 2-i nch by 6-inch boards utilized as joists installed from the beam and attached to the top of interior walls. The joists were set approximately 12 inches on center . The structural "I" beam was 21 feet in length. The height from the top of the beam to the ground was 13 feet. The height from the bottom flange of the beam to the ground was 12 feet 2 inches. One of the exterior walls to which the beams w ere attached measured 9 feet in length. At approximately 1:45 p.m., Employee #1 was standing on top of the joists and "I" beam, 13 feet above the ground, taking measurements while a coworker was cutting the boards for Employee #1. According to the coworker, after cutting one of the boards, he looked up and saw Employee #1 fall from the "I" beam. When he fell, he hit one of the 2-inch by 4-inch boa rds used as a diagonal brace for the exterior wall. After striking the board, Em ployee #1 then fell onto the concrete floor and struck his head. Employee #1 was air lifted to Carolinas Medical Center and later died due to the injuries.