Unpermitted Construction Work On Bad Platform Might Have Led To Fall That Injured Three

Three workers were injured when a platform gave out while they scaffolded a home in San Francisco’s Twin Peaks neighborhood this morning, a state workplace safety department spokesman said.

The collapse was reported at 9:35 a.m. at a home in the 1400 block of Clayton Street.

The workers—men ages 20, 50 and 58 — were all taken to San Francisco General Hospital with serious injuries. Two of the men were taken in life-threatening condition, San Francisco fire spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge said.

Talmadge said there were various bone fractures, among other injuries reported.

Based on a preliminary investigation, personnel from the California Division of Occupational Safety determined the property owner hired the men and may not have acquired the appropriate permits for the construction work, Cal/OSHA spokesman Greg Siggins said.

At least two of the men were standing on a catch platform that collapsed when it was overloaded, Siggins said.

The platform is meant to hold debris and other materials, he said.

Siggins did not know if the workers were wearing appropriate fall protection equipment.

He said they were working on scaffolding that was more than 15 feet high.

According to Siggins, scaffolding projects more than 15 feet high require certain permits.

He said Cal/OSHA officials are still determining if the homeowner will be cited for safety regulation violations.

Sasha Lekach, Bay City News

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