ISHN logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
ISHN logo
  • NEWS
    • Today's News
    • Global Safety News
    • Government Regulations
  • PRODUCTS
    • Product Innovations
    • Featured Products
  • TOPICS
    • Environmental Health and Safety
    • Facility Safety
    • Workplace Health
    • Occupational Safety
    • PPE
    • More Topics
  • CONSTRUCTION
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • COLUMNS
    • Best Practices
    • Dave Johnson: What’s going on
    • Editorial Comments
    • Leading Safety
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • ISHN Podcast
    • Videos
    • Cold Stress Education Quiz
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • MORE
    • Buyer's Guide
    • Newsletters
    • Convention Companion
    • Polls
    • Events
    • ISHN Store
    • Sponsor Insights
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archived Issues
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • JOIN TODAY!
Today's Safety News

Notre Dame student worker before fatal fall: "This is terrifying" (3/14)

March 14, 2011


The death of Notre Dame University student who fell after a scissor lift he was on was toppled by high winds will be the subject of an Indiana Department of Labor news briefing tomorrow.

Indiana OSHA is expected to announce the results of the investigation into the fatal fall of Declan Sullivan, a 20 year-old student who had worked for the school as a videographer for two years. Sullivan was high in the air on a scissor lift on October 27, 2010, videotaping a football practice, when the structure fell. Although first responders from the school’s campus security were on the scene within three minutes, Sullivan stopped breathing en route to a South Bend hospital and was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival.

Referring to the Indiana OSHA investigation after the accident, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick said, “There is a lot to learn here, and we will learn it all.” Responding to questions about safety policies, he said: "Every (athletic) program makes it own decisions."

Notre Dame routinely uses two scissor lifts during practice. On the afternoon Sullivan died, wind gusts were up to 51 m.p.h., according to the National Weather Service.

Earlier in the day, Sullivan tweeted about his upcoming work: "Gusts of wind up to 60 m.p.h. well today will be fun at work...I guess I've lived long enough."

But after an hour of working in high winds, his tone turned more serious: "This is terrifying," he said in a message.

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • forklift safety

    Exploring the latest technologies in forklift safety

    With more staff and more stock in warehousing now more...
    Workplace Training Strategies
    By: Josh Cramer
  • welding

    All about welder’s flash or arc eye

    A flash burn is a painful inflammation of the cornea,...
    Environmental Health and Safety
  • dangerous jobs

    The 10 most dangerous jobs in the U.S.

    On-the-job deaths have been rising — hitting the highest...
    Government Safety Regulations
    By: Benita Mehta
Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscriptions
  • ISHN Newsletter & Other Newsletter Alerts
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the ISHN audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of ISHN or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • man wearing the the Sundström SR200 Full Face Mask Respirator
    Sponsored byOHD

    5 Fit Testing Mistakes That Could Cost You

  • This image shows Magid AcuSpex polarized blue mirrored safety glasses.
    Sponsored byMagid Glove and Safety

    Construction PPE Guide: What Crews Need for Each Task

  • lone worker in confined space
    Sponsored byAlphasense Ltd.

    GET THE LEAD OUT of your Safety Oxygen Sensors!

Popular Stories

SpaceX 7 launch

OSHA Investigating Fatal Fall at SpaceX Starbase

psychology in the workplace

Most Workplaces Measure Psychological Safety, Ignoring Psychosocial Risks

Worker Impairment

How to Tell When a Co-Worker is Impaired? A Safety Pro’s Challenge

top 10 most dangerous jobs

Poll

Seasonal Readiness

With the federal heat stress prevention rule on the horizon, which area of your safety program needs the most attention?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

Surviving an OSHA Audit A Management Guide, 2nd Edition

Surviving an OSHA Audit A Management Guide, 2nd Edition

See More Products

ISHN Podcasts

Related Articles

  • Notre Dame hit with "most serious" violation following student worker's death (3/22)

    See More
  • Notre Dame clears its staff in student worker's death (4/20)

    See More
  • Fans at Michigan-Notre Dame game save life of heart attack victim

    See More

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • August 5, 2025

    Safety Before the Fall

    ON DEMAND: This comprehensive webinar offers attendees a valuable refresher on fall protection in the workplace, with a focus on both general industry and construction environments. The session will begin with an overview of the history of fall protection and key statistics that highlight the importance of robust safety measures.
View AllSubmit An Event

Related Directories

  • SafetyLine Lone Worker

    SafetyLine Lone Worker helps companies monitor the status of workers who are remote, alone, or working in hazardous situations. We are an automated check-in monitoring and emergency notification service. SafetyLine uses its communications infrastructure to ensure that workers have comprehensive monitoring, 24/7, without the need for costly monitoring centers.
×

Become a Leader in Safety Culture

Build your knowledge with ISHN, covering key safety, health and industrial hygiene news, products, and trends.

JOIN TODAY
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Manufacturing Division
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • Newsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing