Antonio Holger, 43, of Fall River, Died After Falling From Roof of Home in Southborough
SOUTHBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS (May 7, 2026) – A 43-year-old roofing contractor identified as Antonio Holger has tragically died after falling several feet from a rooftop in Southborough.
Worcester County officials are saying that the accident took place at around 4:00 p.m. on April 29. Antonio Holger fell several feet onto the ground below while working on the roof of the property.
Police and firefighters were called to the scene of the accident to help the victim. They found the roofing contractor with major injuries and rushed him to the hospital in an ambulance.
Despite life-saving measures at the hospital, Antonio Holger later died due to the severe nature of his injuries. A full investigation by OSHA remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Massachusetts Roof Fall Accidents
Construction companies have a legal obligation to protect workers from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. They must maintain their property in a safe condition and abide by all OSHA regulations. This necessitates that employers take certain safety measures to prevent workers from being harmed in falls. What follows are some of the many ways that construction companies can prevent fall accidents.
- Barriers: Employers may need to install barriers around roofs or other elevated structures.
- Openings: Employers should secure any open covers that may be near an active construction site.
- Fall Protection: Employers should provide their workers with personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) when those workers are operating at a height of 6 feet or higher.
- Training: Employers should ensure that their workers have ample training to be able to recognize fall hazards.
When a worker is injured or killed in Massachusetts, they or their surviving family members will typically have recourse through the workers’ compensation system. There is no need for an injured worker to demonstrate that their employer acted negligently. However, injured workers and their surviving family members may be able to pursue damages through a third-party liability claim. In the next section, we will explore several potential sources of third-party liability for a construction fall.
Third-Party Liability for Massachusetts Roof Fall Accidents
Falls remain one of the leading causes of preventable injury and death for construction workers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “In 2023, about 1 in 5 (20.8 percent) workplace deaths occurred in the construction industry and 38.5 percent of these deaths were due to falls, slips, and trips. The construction industry accounted for 47.8 percent of all fatal falls, slips, and trips in 2023.” There could be several sources of third-party liability when a worker is injured or killed in a fall.
- General Contractor: A general contractor could face liability if they ignored fall hazards or otherwise failed to enforce safety rules.
- Property Owner: A property owner could be liable for a construction fall if they retained control over a worksite and knew about dangerous conditions but nonetheless failed to act.
- Subcontractor: A subcontractor could face liability for a fall if they created a hazard by removing guard rails or floor coverings.
- Equipment Manufacturers: An equipment manufacturer could be liable for an accident if there was some type of design defect with their equipment that contributed to a fall.
Construction falls are often highly preventable. They tend to involve situations where employers are not following OSHA standards. Unfortunately, construction companies will virtually never accept responsibility if a worker is seriously injured or killed in a fall. This is why it is so important these incidents are thoroughly investigated by an outside party. The family of any worker who died in a construction fall is able to seek some measure of accountability through a wrongful death claim.
Investigating Massachusetts Construction Accidents
We at DiBella Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Antonio Holger. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to OSHA. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. Many questions have yet to be answered. Was the victim provided with fall protection? Who is responsible for overseeing safety at this work site?
Do you need more information about a Massachusetts construction accident? Our team of construction safety advocates is here for you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident, we are here for you. You can contact us anytime at (855) 342-3552.
