Despite harnesses, 2 workers killed by fall from scaffolding in Iowa

Updated Jul 3, 2015
A worker sits following a scaffolding fall that took the life of two co-workers on an Ames jobsite June 19. Photo Credit: Matthew Rezab/Iowa State DailyA worker sits following a scaffolding fall that took the life of two co-workers on an Ames jobsite June 19. Photo Credit: Matthew Rezab/Iowa State Daily

Two workers are dead as the result of a fall from scaffolding on an Ames, Iowa jobsite.

According to a report from Iowa State Daily, 35-year-old Javier Hernandez and Alfredo Jarez, unknown age, were killed while working on the construction of a luxury apartment complex for students at Iowa State University.

Ames Police officers responded to a call from the jobsite around 5 p.m. June 19 and found the two workers on the unfinished complex’s second-story roof. The men had fallen three stories from scaffolding.

Hernandez was pronounced dead at the scene. Jarez was treated for his injuries but died later at the hospital.

The Daily reports the cause of their fall remains under investigation, but a witness tells the paper both men were wearing safety harnesses. However, the harnesses apparently “weren’t tied off to the safety ropes on the scaffolding.”