I often discuss how organizations need to audit, inspect, and verify their safeguards to either reduce the probability or severity of an undesired event. Most safety professionals are accustomed to auditing our safe work practices, behaviors, and other related aspects. In Process Safety, most safety engineers are accustomed to conducting annual functional testing of their safety instrumented systems. But how many of us have an inspection process for our guardrails and stair/step railings?
At 11:29 a.m. on July 24, 2024, an employee working for a general freight service was dumping water over a railing. In doing so, the employee pushed his weight against the railing when it failed. The employee fell four feet and struck the top of his head as a result. The employee died from blunt force trauma to his head.
Source: https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=168573.015