Inspection Detail

Inspection: 120172531 - Colusa Rice Co.

Inspection Information - Office: Redding District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 2:30 p.m. on September 20, 1996, Employee #1, the plant supervisor of a rice drier and storage facility, was in a steel frame elevator house that was under construction by a contractor. Employee #1 was found dead on the steel diamond plate floor of the 14 ft deck. He apparently had fallen from somewhere up to 60 ft above the deck, which is totally enclosed except for an opening at the manlift. The manlift, which allegedly was not in operation, had an emergency climbing ladder on the north side, which was the most likely place from which to fall. A cross-brace system inside the structure was the only other elevated location from which he could have fallen. Employee #1 died as a result of traumatic head injuries, but the cause of the fall could not be determined. He tested positive for methamphetamine and had a blood alcohol level of .04 percent. At the time of the accident, Employee #1 was believed to be checking progress on the construction project, although this was not a duty required by his employer.

Keywords: HEAD, AGRICULTURE, WORK RULES, FALL