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 backwards off an apartment building roof and fell 45 feet. 

The California Department of Public Health’s California Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program created a four-minute “digital story” 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. Watch the solar video.

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.

Visit http://socalcosh.org/ for details on two Los Angeles events: the April 26 Workers Health & Safety Action Summit with US Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and the April 28 Workers Memorial Day Commemoration.

Visit http://bit.ly/Memorial-2012 for details on the Oakland April 27 Workers Memorial Day Commemoration.

Visit http://www.stopconstructionfalls.com/ (live on April 26) for more on the national falls prevention campaign.