Worker Who Fell 19 Feet Back on Job

A man who fell approximately 19 feet while erecting a steel frame for the planned Walgreens at Main Street and Greenwood Avenue returned to work last week, a family member said Wednesday.

The man, 23-year-old Thomas Block of Wantage, is "back at his old job" with Vandermeyde Welding & Iron Work Inc., a family business, according to his mother, Lisa Block.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and cited the contractor for "employees performing deck work without any means of fall protection being used," OSHA spokeswoman Leni Fortson said. A settlement of the case included $1,848 in penalties for the company.

The company also initially was issued a citation "for employees working on a second floor deck while overhead bundles were placed on steel hoists without being anchored," but the second citation was withdrawn as part of the informal settlement agreement, Fortson said. OSHA originally proposed $5,280 in penalties, she said.

A message was left with Vandermeyde's office on Wednesday.

Lisa Block said her son's recovery is "quite amazing" and there is no residual damage from the accident.

"I don't know how he survived that fall, but he did," she said.

The company is owned by her brother, Jeff Vandermeyde. Her husband, Darold Block—Thomas Block's father—was the construction foreman the day of the accident, she said.

"I think it's just the nature of the job that things just happen," she said. "You can't protect from everything. ... We're very grateful that our son survived and is healthy."

The citations were issued June 19 and the settlement agreement for the OSHA citations was reached July 12. The citations were classified by OSHA as "serious."

"A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known," the agency said.  Other types of violations include "repeat," "willful," and "other-than-serious."

Fortson has said falls are the leading cause of construction fatalities, and OSHA launched an outreach campaign designed to prevent fatal falls, involving calls for proper planning, and providing the right equipment and training. The campaign includes websites with more information about construction falls—www.osha.gov/stopfalls and stopconstructionfalls.com.

The accident . Madison police, firefighters and an off duty Morris Township police officer who was jogging by the scene tended to Block until the ambulance squad and paramedics responded and transported him to the hospital.

A few days after the incident, Block's parents and saying their son was released from the hospital:

His recovery has been amazing so far. We are truly grateful to all who responded at the scene of his accident. We cannot thank you enough for taking care of our son.