ST. GEORGE – A construction worker has died following a 40-foot fall from the roof of the Dixie Middle School construction site Monday.
Eduardo Gayoso, 57, an employee of Skyline Roofing, was unloading some insulation from a forklift on the steel decking of the roof at about 1:45 p.m., when he lost his footing and fell backwards over the edge landing on a snorkel lift, a type of fork lift, said Derrick Capps, office assistant at Skyline Roofing.
Emergency crews at the scene were unable to comment on Gayoso’s condition while being transported to Dixie Regional Medical Center. He later died from injuries sustained from the fall.
“He was not wearing his harness, our workers are instructed to wear their harness in those situations and for some reason he chose not to wear the harness,” Capps said. “We have had close calls before, but nothing of this magnitude before.”
The harness is attached to a secure structure and is required when roofers are working close to the edge and there is no wall, Capps said.
“He was a good hard worker and trying his best to get the job done,” Capps said, “Unfortunately he failed to follow his training.”
Gayoso had been employed with Skyline Roofing for about four years.
Skyline Roofing is a subcontractor hired to complete the roofing at the Dixie Middle School, which is being overseen by general contractor Bud Mahas Construction.
“We feel extremely sorry for the gentleman and our condolences go out to his family and Skyline Roofing; it’s not something that happens very often, but when it does it’s pretty tragic,” Walker Melling, Bud Mahas Construction project manager, said.
Melling praised the quick response time of the St. George Fire Department and Gold Cross Ambulance that were dispatched to the scene.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated the accident Tuesday.
St. George News Assistant Editor Mori Kessler contributed to this article.
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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2014, all rights reserved.
This is Horrible. Prayers for his loved ones he’s left behind.
The supervisor probably told him not to wear a harness to get the work done faster…
He was probably a illegal immigrant
Your stupid his name is Eduardo Gayoso. You should have more respect for those who die trying to make America a better place… Even if there not from here. Dumb …(*)
Thanks to every one who shows respect!
(*) Ed. ellipsis
…(*). What would you do if you were in that position. Don’t be talking …(*) on Mexicans because I’m a Latin… And if you don’t have a heart to comment on no …(*)
Ed. ellipsis
You are very ignorant what does his legal status have to do with anything this was a hard working human being trying to provide for his family and had a tragic accident …. Ive been in construction and mining for years and this men and woman work hard my condolences to his family …..
I have know people who have work for these local construction companies and non of them enforce the rules. I hope OMAHA fines those companies big. This is sad, a life is lost. My condolences to his family. I hope the company he’s worked for reaches to his family. Jerks.
Who is OMAHA??
More than likely OSHA
They company needs to be responsible for him and help them family and all even to travel the body to his place.
I know the company and they are a tight knit family company and they are all really saddened by this loss. They are doing everything they can. They don’t push people not to be safe to finish jobs quicker. Don’t assume every company is bad because you know a few who haven’t enforced the rules. I’m sure they are doing everything they can for his family as well. And to hope for big fines for a company because of an accident? You want to put everyone else who is already suffering at the loss of a friend out of a job as well? It’s terrible and tragic and it’s shaken up everyone I’m sure. Don’t try to make things worse.
I feel bad for his family, regardless if he is here illegal or not. He should have wore his harness but he didnt. That was his choice. I dont think the company he was working for should be at fault for anything.
Serious, at this point who really cares if illegal?… he lost his life! He has a family who lost a part of their life. Really?? Can you guys (or gals) not think of anything better to do then judge.
Hi hope everyone can read this my family knows this gentleman . Such a nice man he didn’t have any family here is daughter it’s trying line here from Peru where he is from to pick up hers fathers body .
He need all the help he can get to get her here and to take her fathers body .
He need to remember none it’s free accident let us all help he
*dont comment on …
Ed. ellipsis
I believe the roofing company and their insurance are taking care of him and his funeral arrangements, which includes flying him back to his daughter.
My deepest sympathy to the Guyoso Family, his crew, and all the sub contractors that were on the job site and witnessed this terrible tragedy. May God watch over you and ease your hearts and minds in the days and weeks to follow.
It doesn’t matter if he was illegal or not, the man went to work and didn’t come home at night. Unfortunately I see many OSHA violations in all different construction settings around St George and Washington. The site foremen are not doing their jobs in reprimanding those who don’t follow safety guidelines, and who knows if the workers are just skipping steps, or are even instructed in the right language about safety. Just drive around any day of the week and you will see many others not harnessed while on the roofs of businesses and homes. I observed a track hoe operator the other day with a person in the bucket….using it as an amusement park ride….spinning round and round and round. Shocking!
Safety on the construction sites is a joke. The suits who never get dirty demand safety on one hand, but also demand a schedule that can’t be met if you go by the book.
All to often the suits cram safety, but they don’t provide the means to achieve it.
Falls are the most fatal on construction jobs. But very few harnesses are provided, workers are not fitted and trained properly how to use them, and no secure means provided where to tie off.
If we really want safety, then the jobs will get slower and more expensive, but nobody is willing to do that.
Additionally, safety rules are a joke in themselves because they’re to rigid to adapt to all the different scenarios.
It is tragic, but unfortunately it’s the norm for companies like this to hire illegals and also have a culture of lax safety practices. The faster the job is done, the less money they have to pay in wages…very typical.