Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1002788.015 - Sunbelt Rentals, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Department Of Labor, Licensing, And Regulation Division Of Labor And Industry Maryland Occupational Safety And Health

Investigation Summary

At 3:30 p.m. on October 8, 2014, an employee was unloading the JLG 1500SJ Ultra Series Telescopic Boom Lift from the bed of a trailer. The machine was operated and steered from inside the basket located at the end of the boom. The employee was wearing a harness while driving the boom lift off of the front end of the trailer. The employee did not unfold the ramps at the end of the trailer which were designed to create a smooth transition from the bed of the trailer to the ground. When the wheels of the heavy end of the telescopic boom lift reached the edge, they dropped straight down to the ground, causing the basket at the other end of the machine to violently thrust upward, ejecting the employee from the basket. The length of the machine was approximately 61 feet 8 inches with the boom retracted for unloading from the trailer. The heavy end of the machine fell 21.375-inches to the ground. The basket end was violently thrust upward to its resting position at approximately 15 feet 6 inches above the ground. The employee's lanyard connecting his harness to the basket had a deceleration device that became fully deployed. The force and pressure of the harness against the body possibly caused injuries while in mid air. The employee fell, slipped through the harness, and landed on the ground below the basket. A coworker's called emergency medical services. The employee sustained injuries of crushed bones in the face, a broken collar bone, broken ribs, fractured pelvis, and a catheter to reduce swelling. The employee died November 3, 2014.

Keywords: Aerial Lift, Boom Truck, Construction vehicle, Elevated Work Platform, Fall, Fall Protection, Hydraulic Lift, Motor Vehicle, Powered Industrial Vehicle