Man hurt in fall at Nebraska Air Guard HQ dies (another in critical condition)

[Omaha Steve]

Yesterday during lunch Marta and I saw several workers on housing development roofs with no fall protection. We weren't sure if it was new Offutt Air Base housing or private. Either way it is dangerous and against OSHA rules. I was hurt in Dec. of 07 when I didn't have fall protection. My employer is exempt from OSHA regulations. The state has that responsibility, and don't have the funds to protect anybody.


http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10635918

Published Saturday May 16, 2009
Man hurt in fall at Nebraska Air Guard HQ dies

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 25-year-old man who was hurt in a fall at the Nebraska Air National Guard headquarters in Lincoln has died.

Ryan Hitchler of Waverly died overnight Friday into Saturday at BryanLGH Medical Center West in Lincoln.

Hitchler and 21-year-old Preston Gibson of Merriam, Kan., were critically hurt Tuesday after falling nearly 20 feet from a lift platform outside a hangar.

Gibson has been upgraded to serious condition.

Nebraska National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Bob Vrana has said the pair were repairing a hangar roof when the accident happened. They were employees of a subcontractor.