World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 day ago
Hiratsuka review cites safety failures in vice principal’s fatal fall
In September 2019, a vice principal died after falling from a school roof in Hiratsuka, Japan, while checking an outdoor air-conditioning unit beyond a safety fence.
The fall happened after a typhoon had passed, and the man was in his 50s.
On October 23, a city-appointed committee submitted its findings to the Hiratsuka Board of Education.
The committee said the principal suggested the inspection without safety measures, contributing to the accident.
It also found that the city board and school had not clearly set out safe ways to carry out dangerous work, and recommended a stronger system to protect school staff led by the superintendent.
In March, the Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education gave the former principal a one-month suspension, and the committee said staff safety needs more attention alongside student safety.
A review committee said safety failures contributed to the 2019 death of a vice principal who fell while inspecting an outdoor air-conditioning unit at a Hiratsuka municipal junior high school.
The man, who was in his 50s, fell from the school roof after a typhoon had passed.
The committee said the principal had independently suggested the inspection without putting safety measures in place.
It also found that the city education board and school had not clearly set out procedures for hazardous work.
The committee submitted its report to the city education board on October 23, 2026, and urged the city to establish a workplace safety system for school staff.
- Who
- A male vice principal in his 50s died. The review committee examined the accident.
- What
- He fell to his death while inspecting an outdoor air-conditioning unit. The committee cited safety failures.
- When
- September 2019. The committee submitted its report on October 23, 2026.
- Where
- A Hiratsuka municipal junior high school in Hiratsuka, Japan.
- Why
- The committee said the principal suggested the inspection without safety measures, and hazardous-work procedures were not clearly defined.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
After a typhoon passed, the vice principal fell while inspecting an outdoor air-conditioning unit beyond the roof fence and died.
The prefectural education board disciplined the former principal with a one-month suspension.
The review committee submitted its report to the Hiratsuka city education board.
- Victim
- Male vice principal in his 50s
- Location
- Hiratsuka municipal junior high school
- Accident date
- September 2019
- Report submitted
- October 23, 2026
- Former principal’s penalty
- One-month suspension from the prefectural education board in March 2026
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What people are saying
Many efforts are being made for children’s safety, but there are still areas where the safety of school staff is insufficient. I hope the superintendent of education will recognize their responsibility to protect school staff and fulfill that responsibility.