State To Probe Death Of Man Who Fell Through Skylight

The state Department of Labor and Industries will investigate the death of a Seattle man who stepped on a skylight and fell about 40 feet to his death Friday afternoon.

Wayne Gaenz, 47, was trying to clear snow from the warehouse roof at Familian Northwest, 7115 W. Marginal Way S.W., when he fell through the plastic skylight. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center, where he died of internal injuries.

Company officials at Familian, a plumbing wholesaler where Gaenz had worked 15 years, said Gaenz was trying to clear snow because it was leaking into offices below. He was walking from one corner of the roof to another when he stepped on the skylight, which was concealed by snow.

"It was a sad, sad freak accident," said warehouse manager Terry Watkins. "He was absolutely a key employee - efficient in every way. He never wasted a step. The kind of guy that would pick up wood in the yard to deliver to widows."

Watkins said the roof was in good repair and did not have a history of leaking before the snowstorm. "In all the years I've been here, we've never had any problems with the roof," he said.

But two former employees said the roof leaked constantly and was considered hazardous by some employees.

"The skylights on that building, one in particular, was duct-taped," said Don Zueger, who worked at the company three years before leaving in July. "It had cracks on it. One guy used to sweep water off the skylights because they leaked. I would never go up there. No way."

Another former employee, who did not want to be identified, agreed, saying, "The roof leaked for years. I wouldn't have gone up there, even without snow."

Michael McCarthy, a Familian employee and friend of Gaenz, said he wasn't aware of leaking problems but thought the accident might have been avoided "with a little more foresight."

The Department of Labor and Industries said it did not have any record of major safety violations at the company.

Watkins said the company had a good track record and wasn't worried about a state investigation. "We expect that and welcome it," he said of an inspection at the plant.

Gaenz, a truck driver, was married and had a daughter and grandchild.

There were six other deaths attributed to weather in Western Washington in the winter storms since Thursday:

-- Caroline Shepler, 62, of Bow, Skagit County, died Thursday when her car collided with another vehicle on an icy road in Skagit County.

-- Donald Tapley, 45, of Seattle was overcome Friday by fumes from a generator at his home.

-- Arthur McKaig, 73, of Belfair, Mason County, died Saturday when a tree branch fell and struck him as he trimmed branches from trees.

-- One person died Saturday night in Whatcom County, reportedly while shoveling snow, said Neil Clement at the county Department of Emergency Management. Additional information was unavailable.

-- Janet Turnbull, 52, of Orting, Pierce County, was killed Sunday when her car collided with a pickup near her home.

-- Kenneth Schmoe, 76, of Issaquah was killed Sunday when a tree branch fell on him.

Information from Associated Press is included in this report.