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June 20, 2012

Victim of fall is identified

By Joel Pruett The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — Cause of death report could be issued today

The victim of Monday’s fatal fall at a dormitory construction site has been identified.

Colby Shaw, 24, a construction worker for Universal Roofing & Sheet Metal since 2006, fell four stories while on the job at the University of Oklahoma’s Headington Hall at Lindsey Street and Jenkins Avenue.

Amy Elliott, chief administrative officer for the chief medical examiner, said Tuesday afternoon that Shaw’s cause of death report is pending. Elliott’s office could issue a report on Shaw’s death as early as this morning.

After his fall, which was reported to the OU Police Department at 8:12 a.m., Shaw was transported by helicopter to OU Medical Center.

Hospital spokesman Eric Ferguson said Shaw died at 9:15 a.m. Monday in the medical center. Ferguson said he could not disclose a cause of death.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials are investigating the fall. Flintco LLC, the construction project’s general contractor, and Universal Roofing also are investigating the case.

Jimmy Guthrie, president at Universal Roofing, a Moore business, said company policy requires employees to tie off their harnesses when they are working six feet above ground. Employees are required to wear a body harness, lanyards and a rope.

Guthrie said Shaw was wearing his harness, though he didn’t hook it to a tie-off point.

Dana Birkes, Flintco’s vice president of business development and marketing, said preliminary findings from OSHA’s investigation also suggest this was the case.

Joel Pruett 366-3540 jpruett@ normantranscript.com

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