Worker killed after falling from eighth story in Ormond-by-the-Sea condominium

While the worker was reported to be wearing a harness, the equipment also fell, Volusia County Sheriff's Office reports.

By Jarleene Almenas
| 2:30 p.m. November 7, 2019

A contractor fell from the eight story of Aquarius while working on storm shutters Thursday morning. Photo courtesy of Google Images

Ormond Beach Observer
News

A contractor working at an Ormond-by-the-Sea condominium died Thursday morning after he fell from the building's eight floor.

The man, whose identity has not been released, was working on storm shutters in the Aquarius Oceanfront Condo, located at 1575 Ocean Shore Blvd, Volusia County Sheriff's Office reported. Deputies responded to a 911 call about the incident just after 10 a.m. on Nov. 7. The man was harnessed to an object at the top of the building, VCSO reports, but the harnessing equipment also fell to the ground.

No criminal charges are pending at this time and VCSO is continuing to investigate the fall, which the agency says looks to have been a "tragic accident."

This marks the 15th fall-related death in the state of Florida in 2019, according to current fatality inspection data by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA reports that falls are one of the top four leading causes of private sector worker deaths in the construction industry and accounted for 381 out of the 971 deaths in construction in the U.S. in 2017.