A 17-year veteran employee of Peet’s Coffee died when part of a warehouse roof collapsed early Friday morning in Oakland, according to Peet’s and the Oakland Fire Department.
Firefighters were called at 3:13 a.m. to the warehouse in the 600 block of 85th Avenue, just southeast of the RingCentral Coliseum.
A 30-by-30-foot portion of the roof collapsed and killed the man, fire spokesperson Michael Hunt said. Another Peet’s employee in the warehouse suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital, according to Peet’s and the fire department.
“We are all devastated by this tragedy,” Peet’s officials said by email. “The employee was a distribution lead and had been a beloved part of the Peet’s family.”
This incident highlights the importance of regular maintenance and timely roof repair to prevent such accidents in the future. Ensuring the integrity of a roof can protect not only the building but also the safety of its occupants. Additionally, implementing a fall protection positioning system can significantly enhance safety measures for workers conducting repairs, ensuring they are securely harnessed and reducing the risk of falls. By prioritizing both maintenance and safety systems, we can create a safer environment for everyone involved.
The section of the roof that fell was about 5 percent of the total roof area.
“It’s a big facility,” Hunt said.
The fallen roof section was over an area used by Peet’s Coffee.
The building has been tagged as unsafe for occupation, Hunt said. The name of the man who died was not available early Friday from the Alameda County coroner’s bureau.
