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DANVILLE, PA--Federal safety authorities are investigating the fatal fall of a masonry worker at a hospital jobsite in Pennsylvania.
The 48-year-old worker fell 100 feet to his death about noon July 8 at Geisinger Medical Center’s Foss Clinic, according to news reports citing police and other officials.
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Family via Mayo Funeral Home |
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A father of three sons, Stephen Kuchka, 48, died July 8 in a fall. He had spent decades working as a masonry contractor.
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The worker, identified as Stephen Kuchka, of Berwick, PA, had been working for Masonry Preservation Services, restoring bricks on the building’s exterior.
Kuchka had been an MPS employee for 17 years and a member of the Bricklayers Local 5 for 30 years, according to his obituary. He is survived by three sons.
Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry, according to OSHA officials.
Descending for Lunch
Reports say the fatal fall occurred as Kuchka and two other workers were preparing to descend the scaffolding to take a lunch break.
The scaffolding had been raised about 9½ stories, Montour County Coroner Scott Lynn told The Daily Item.
It was not clear Tuesday (July 14) whether the workers were wearing fall protection harnesses or other safety gear.
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Geisinger.org |
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The worker fell to his death from 100 feet at the Geisinger Medical Center's Foss Clinic in Danville, PA.
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Kuchka reportedly landed on an upper-level landing that had been made and was pronounced dead at the scene, The Daily Item said.
Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials and local police are investigating the incident. The agency’s probe could take up to six months to complete.
Statement from Owner
Masonry Preservation Services of Berwick did not respond Tuesday to a request for comment or more information.
However, a Geisinger official told members of local media, “We take all the precautions that we can to protect ourselves from accidents, but unfortunately, sometimes they occur and this is tragic.”
Geisinger said it was cooperating with the investigation.
OSHA Record
Masonry Preservation Services has a record of cases with OSHA.
The record includes a July 2010 violation for fall-protection hazards at a jobsite in Washington D.C.
The initial penalty of $3,300 was reduced to $2,310 through informal settlement, according to the database.
The company also was cited for fall-protection hazards in December 2008, and paid a penalty of $780, the record states.
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