A man died yesterday after falling from a scissor lift while working in Fort Worth, according to police. Emergency crews rushed him to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Authorities have opened an investigation into how the fall occurred.
The death was first reported by WFAA, which said officers responded to the scene and confirmed the man fell from a scissor lift. The station noted that officials released few immediate details about the worksite or the victim as investigators began sorting out what happened.
Investigations and Reporting Requirements
Workplace deaths typically draw in local law enforcement and the medical examiner and can also trigger reviews by safety regulators. Under federal rules, employers must notify OSHA of any work-related fatality within eight hours, a requirement that can lead to agency inspections and follow-up. OSHA says such reports help preserve the scene for investigators and guide whether additional enforcement or corrective measures are needed.
Scissor-Lift Hazards and What Safety Rules Say
Federal guidance treats scissor lifts differently from boom-style aerial platforms, and that distinction affects what kind of fall protection needs to be in place on a job. As OSHA explained in a standard interpretation, scissor lifts are not aerial lifts and are considered scaffolds, which means that properly maintained guardrails on the platform can satisfy fall-protection requirements in many situations. The agency also warns crews to watch for tipping hazards, overloading, and contact with nearby power lines, risks that can lead to falls, electrocution, or severe injury.
How Common Are Fatal Falls on Job Sites?
Falls to lower levels remain one of the deadliest types of workplace incidents in construction. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that falls, slips, and trips accounted for about 39.2% of construction fatalities in 2023 and that the most deadly falls were from heights between 6 and 30 feet. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health says inadequate planning and a lack of fall protection are recurring contributors to these cases and provides prevention resources for employers and crews, per BLS (NIOSH)…