Inspection Detail
Inspection: 310031935 - Tower Reinforcement, Inc.
Inspection Information - Office: Jacksonville Area Office
Site Address:
Tower Reinforcement, Inc.
10550 St. Augustine Road
Jacksonville, FL 32257
Mailing Address:
2301 West Michigan Ste I, Evansville, IA 47712
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:1791
NAICS: 238190/ Other Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Complete
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 06/11/2007
Emphasis: L:Fall, S:Commercial Constr, S:Fall From Height
Case Closed: 05/02/2008
Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
---|---|---|---|
Accident | 101356228 |
Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initial Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
Current Violations | ||||||
Initial Penalty | $4,900 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $4,900 |
Current Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
# | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 01001 | Serious | 19260501 B15 | 09/25/2007 | 09/28/2007 | $0 | $4,900 | $0 | 10/17/2007 | F - Formal Settlement | Citation has been deleted. |
Investigation Summary
On June 7, 2007, Employee #1, age 19, was part of a crew installing reinforcing bars on the sides of a monopole cellular tower. Employee #1 was at a height of approximately 108 ft installing rigging equipment so the reinforcing materials could be hoisted to that level. When he climbed the tower, his safety harness was connected to a cable lifeline that was equipped with a cable sliding device. Once Employee #1 reached his working level, he disconnected from the cable lifeline to reposition himself on the other side of the tower. On the front of his safety harness, he had a pelican hook device that was used for positioning. Employee #1 also had a safety lanyard that was connected to the back of his safety harness. On the other end of the lanyard there was a rope grab device, even though a rope lifeline had not yet been installed on the tower. Employee #1 apparently connected the pelican hook to the tower, as he was observed from the ground leaning back on his harness and using both of his hands to move material. It is not known if the pelican hook came loose when Employee #1 connected it to one of the climbing pegs on the tower, or if he disconnected his hook to reposition himself. Employee #1 fell from the tower, landing on the roof of a nearby building. He sustained multiple fractures, lacerations and contusions to his head, neck, torso, and extremities, and died at the work site. The medical examiner's report listed the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries. The report also stated that Employee #1 had a high level of ethanol in his blood (0.13 percent) and vitreous (0.16 percent), as well as cannabinoids and nordiazepam. His coworkers admitted that they had drank alcohol the previous night until around midnight, but all denied that they drank or consumed drugs on the day of the accident.
Keywords: ATTACHMENT HOOK, FRACTURE, HEAD, COMMUNICATION TOWER, ALCOHOL, DRUG OVERDOSE, CONSTRUCTION, FALL, FALL PROTECTION, TOWER
# | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 310031935 | Fatality | Fracture | Occupation not reported |