Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 200200699 - Employee killed in fall into open pit

Accident Summary Nr: 200200699 -- Report ID: 0418200 -- Event Date: 01/12/1999
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
300622602	01/13/1999	1796	0	Taft Contracting Company, Inc.

Abstract: Employee #1 and a coworker were repairing a drooping segment of a safety cable that surrounded the perimeter of a 30 ft deep open pit, and two of the four angle iron uprights that supported the cable. Apparently, some interceptor pumps had been placed in the pit to address the 4 in. of standing water in the bottom of it. The electrical cords for the pumps, which weighed 6 lb per foot, had been pulled up from the pit and laid over a segment of the safety cable. Heavy manila rope had then been used to tie the cords to the cable to prevent them from falling back into the wet pit. As a result, the cable was sagging nearly to the ground, leaving that side of the pit unguarded. The coworker stood in the center of the coil of electrical cords while Employee #1 stood near the edge of the pit, facing outward. As he cut the manila rope to free the electrical cords from the cable safety barrier, he grabbed one of the angle iron uprights for support. When the electrical cords were free, the force of their weight knocked Employee #1 into the pit. He was killed.

Keywords: UNSECURED, WORK RULES, PERIMETER GUARDING, CONSTRUCTION, PIT, FALL, FALL PROTECTION, LOST BALANCE

Accident Details
End Use		Project Type		Project Cost	Stories	Non-building Height	Fatality
Manufacturing plant		Alteration or rehabilitation		$5,000,000 to $20,000,000	2		X

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation	Construction
1	300622602			Fatality	Other	Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: 30 feet Cause: Temporary work (buildings, facilities) Fatality Cause: Fall through opening (other than roof)

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