A 45-year-old National Institutes of Health employee was pronounced dead after falling down an air shaft on the Clinical Center campus in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
“The deceased was an electrician for the NIH and was working on the exterior of the building when the incident occurred,” according to reports.
“Responders estimate that the deceased fell between 20 and 30 feet,” reports stated.
Officials say it appeared was walking or standing on the grate, but they are unsure why.
The NIH Division Occupational Health and Safety reported the accident to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Both parties will investigate the incident to determine the cause and ensure that appropriate safety measures are in place and respected.