AUBURN — The Maine Department of Labor on Wednesday released the results of a study on rooftop falls similar to that which left a Biddeford man in critical condition last week.

George Beam, 43, remained at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston on Wednesday, a week after he fell through a skylight while fixing a heating system on top of the Auburn Mall.

In the days after his fall, Beam was listed in critical condition at CMCC. On Wednesday, a hospital spokeswoman said no information on Beam’s condition was being released, which usually indicates that the family has asked for privacy.

According to a fundraiser page, Beam suffered head trauma and a broken neck when he fell about 20 feet to the concrete floor inside the mall. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Beam and his family with medical costs.

“George is an amazing friend to many and a terrific person in general,” according to the GoFundMe page. “Please donate what you can to aid in his recovery and daily living expenses that he will be unable to maintain while recovering from this tragic accident. Every little bit helps. And I would also ask for your prayers at this time as well. This is going to be a long road to recovery for George.”

The Department of Labor’s report, “Roofing and Building Exterior Worker Falls in Maine 2011-2013,” focuses on fall injuries among Maine’s roofing and building exterior construction workers, factors that may have contributed to them and regulatory and enforcement efforts to reduce them.

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From 2011 through 2013, four workers died as a result of falls, according to the report, while another 34 Maine workers were injured as a result of falls from roofs, falls onto roofs, and falls from ladders, scaffoldings and staging.

This report provides data on the causes of these incidents, the kinds of injuries incurred by the workers and associated Workers’ Compensation costs. It also provides information regarding federal regulations standards, enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, pertaining to fall-protection safety in the construction industry and penalties levied against employers for violations of those standards.

Maine Workers’ Compensation claim costs for the 34 worker injuries resulting from roof, scaffolding and ladder falls in 2011–2013 were about $1.05 million. About 75 percent of that ($762,782) was for medical and rehabilitation care and about 25 percent ($259,124) for time away from work and claim settlements. The average cost per injury claim was $30,931.

The report is available at maine.gov/labor/labor_stats/research.html.

OSHA is investigating the fall that left Beam injured. The probe is expected to last at least two weeks.

In Massachusetts, a similar fall through a store skylight left a teenager in critical condition less than a week after Beam was hurt.

The 17-year-old student was part of a crew shoveling the roof of Frugal Fannie’s clothing store in Westwood when he fell. A Westwood Fire Department spokesman said he fell about 25 feet and was flown to a Boston hospital with undisclosed injuries.


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