Ogden fall claims life of construction worker

OGDEN — A construction worker died after falling 60 to 65 feet during a heavy rainstorm.

The 45-year-old man was working on the new recreation center being built on the site of the old Ogden City Mall about 9:30 a.m. Friday. He was helping to move 25-feet roofing sheets, said Ogden police Lt. Scott Conley.

The man lost his footing, slipped and fell to the bottom. He was taken to McKay-Dee Hospital where he was pronounced dead, Conley said.

Investigators believe three factors combined to cause the accident: the heavy rain that was falling at the time made the steel beam he was standing on slick; he was wearing shoes with no tread; and even though he had a safety harness on, it was not clipped onto the safety line.

The man's name was not released Friday pending notification of family members. He worked for AB Construction in West Jordan.

OSHA was investigating the accident, Conley said.