Window washer fell about 82 feet before his safety harness kicked in

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.daily-journal.com/archives/dj/display.php?id=424360

A window washer in Gold Coast, Qld., Australia, was working nine storys up when he fell about 25 meters (82 ft) before his safety harness kicked in, bringing him to a quick stop. The 20-year-old man was hospitalized for three injuries: a fractured arm, a fractured pelvis, and what he described to co-workers as "a big wedgie". A co-worker said "He's lucky to be alive.

[flvegan]

1. 9 storys up is 90 feet give or take, right?

Falling 82' of 90'...at least the "big wedgie" probably pushed the shit back in.

[Parche]

2. Holy Crap!!!!!

I am scared sh*tless of heights anyway, you would never catch me up there.....
:hi:

[DS1]

3. TA DAAAH!

[PVnRT]

4. If he were in the U.S., that would be a safety violation

OSHA 1910.66 Appendix C, Section III, Paragraph (k): "...A few extra feet of free fall can significantly increase the arresting force on the employee, possibly to the point of causing injury. Because of this, the free fall distance should be kept at a minimum, in no case greater than six feet (1.8 m).

Either Australian safety regulations are dangerously lax, or the work supervisor is an idiot. I can't help but wonder what kind of harness system they were using, since most conform to OSHA standards anyway.