Contractor dies from fall at SFGAm.

Not very detailed article at the moment. Very sad.

Click here.

I'm sure this comment will get deleted, but there goes any of the cost savings associated with that ride removal....hopefully that risk was underwritten....

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones.

^If the man was in your family, I think you'd want a little more sensitivity toward your LOSS first, second, third and fourth of all. Even if that loss was somehow due to an oversight of his own. And at this point, none of us know the details.

Some things are a little more important than a measly ride or amusement park or our passing thoughts about what we want there. Honestly.

-CO

Yes, Very - VERY sad story.... Awful thing to hear, and I hope for nothing but the best for his family and friends....

Heard this on KissFM this morning driving in to work.
Whether or not the park had mentioned it already - but I guess that means Splashwater Falls is OUT!

"To Make Way For Future Expansion" :) Niiiiiiiiiiice!

-JC-

Terrible!
Interesting though, because I am taking a program at my work right now called safe start, and its to provide workers with information on safety and how to prevent possible injuries that may occur. One of the main topics that has a large relevance to this subject is falls, and more importantly falls on the job.

Falls are one of the biggest issues concerning death in the workforce or on the job. Even though we as the workers in the workforce believe we have things taken care of, or are safe in what we are doing it proves time and time again that its not enough.

Clearly this guy who has fallen more then likely thought he was doing the right thing when deconstructing the water slide or had all the proper precautions taken care of, but sadly it has caused this man his life. Maybe there was a mechanical failure of some sort that happened which caused his death, or something out of his own judgement and power, however, majority of the time it can be prevented.

Very Sad. *** Edited 3/12/2008 7:37:53 PM UTC by CoasterDiscern***

Very sad to hear :(. My feelings go out to his family, friends, and coworkers.

What a terrible, unfortunate tragedy. How sad for his family and colleagues. Who gives a thought when they leave their home in the morning that they might not come back?

I also hope that certain parties don't try to use this incident as "proof" that parks are unsafe, deadly places. This was a construction/demolition accident that happened to occur in a theme park.

^RGB, sadly a lot of people who are in high-risk occupations. Last year, The History Channel had "Ice Road Truckers," about guys who drive heavy equipment to diamond mines in the Northwest territories of Canada. if the ice cracks and you go through with your rig, there's very little chance you'll survive the frigid water.

And then last week on The History Channel they started "Ax Men," about men in the Pacific Northwest who are in the logging industry. Really dangerous stuff.

In my job, I frequently have to climb a A-frame ladder with a center straight section that pulls up which puts me way above the floor to work on lights for the church I work for. I've gotten much better at dealing with it, but I try to never be complacent.

As I was working on an installation of two lights for the cross on Holy Thursday, I frequently had people coming for meetings passing by telling me to "Be careful." While it would seem annoying, it constantly reminded me to think that I was 20+ feet off the ground. From that distance, it's real easy to die or become paralyzed.

A Follow Up Article:

Widow of man who fell to death at Six Flags Great America sues

Well, I guess SF will get hit with ANOTHER black eye this week. The gerneral public will hear "blah blah blah died at Six Flags blah blah blah"

SIX stock is gonna drop like rock.

She's only asking for $50,000. That's pretty reasonable. Good for her.

50K is, what, what GAm's payroll for two days?

That money will cover expenses endured. I'm not sure who was to blame for the incident however.

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Hopman said:
Well, I guess SF will get hit with ANOTHER black eye this week. The gerneral public will hear "blah blah blah died at Six Flags blah blah blah"

SIX stock is gonna drop like rock.

---

Like it already hasn't?

If it's 50 grand, it will be settled out of court, and the park's and the contractor's insurance companies will cover the money.

The link didn't work for me, so I couldn't read the article.

Such a sad thing. I'm sorry for this man's wife and family.

I hate how these accidents at parks seem to happen in clusters.

My sister likes to watch Deadliest Catch on the Discovery Channel-- crab fishing is also a very dangerous occupation. It must be scary to go to work every day not knowing if you'll make it home.

CatPurrson

^I like your screen name, Catpurrson. :) I have two kitties myself.....Timbers and Kumba. I have NO idea how I came up with those names. ;)

I may be alone here but I don't think the construction company should be held liable. If you take a job like that you should be fully aware that the unfortunate COULD happen, just like the guys who spend six months crab fishing.

I don't mean to sound insensitive. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and family, but there is so much a company can do to ensure the safety of its' employees.

-Tina

*** Edited 7/5/2008 12:21:21 AM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

^Thanks, Tina! :) I only have two with me right now, but there are eight more at my mom's house. My boys are Rogue and Jasper. Rogue's just, well, a rogue, and I liked the sound of Jasper. Got it from a baby book. Not a coaster fan, are ya? :)

I don't think Six Flags should be held liable, but it's a nice goodwill gesture if they pay funeral expenses, and maybe a bit to the family. It's important to be aware of the risks inherent in one's job-- I was a bit dismayed to find out that a chemical I worked with could be deadly if it contacts skin! Eek! Glad I read the MSDS, though it was *after* I used it.

CatPurrson

^Oh I agree about Six Flags paying for the expenses. I can't argue with that. Luckily my job isn't so dangerous unless you count fussy customers and ink toner. ;)

I used to name my pets after rock stars but somehow a few coaster names got thrown in there. ;) I had the name "Timbers" picked out before I adopted her and "Kumba" sounded more "cat-like" than Gwazi. ;)

The names both "fit" them. :) Timbers is a torti and loves to play rough. Kumba is black and white and loves to spin around like a typical B&M ;) Their personalities are like night and day. It's hard to believe they are from the same litter. :)

-Tina

*** Edited 7/5/2008 12:40:10 AM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

You two aren't the only furball lovers around here! I have a big black cat we call "Capt. Hook" My family's cats tend to get literary names. We did have an orange tabby we named "Tiger Lilly." Had to put her down about a year ago.

^^ I've had a few dangerous jobs: I worked in a meat shop (sharpe knives, 80lb. boxes to drop on your toes), construction (too many to list) and working a vacume truck cleaning storm drains (200 lb. sewer grates, climbing inside basins and tanks, 30 foot holes.) You try to be as safe as you can, but stuff happens.