Construction Worker dies after Falling from Roof of Kenyatta Hospital
The cause of the accident at is not clear, although it is likely that the worker did not have or failed to use adequate fall protection equipment.
A construction worker died after he fell from the roof of Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi on Monday. The worker who was repairing the roof is reported to have slipped and fell head first onto the ground. He was rushed to the hospital for treatment where he was pronounced dead.
Incidences of workers falling from height especially in the construction sector continue to rise. According to a research published in the American Journal of Civil Engineering in August 2016, about 65% of all construction site injuries in Nairobi are as a result of workers falling from heights or being hit by falling objects.
Although the country does not have specific regulations governing working at height, article 77(7) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 2007 provides that;
"Where any person is to work at a place from where he is liable to fall a distance of more than three metres, then, unless the place is one which affords secure foothold and, where necessary, secure handhold, means shall be provided, so far as is reasonably practicable, by fencing or otherwise for ensuring his safety."
The cause of the accident at the Kenyatta National Hospital is yet to be established but what is clear is that the worker did not have or failed to use adequate fall protection equipment that would have prevented the accident.
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