Accident Report Detail
Accident Summary Nr: 200966620 - Employee Injured In Fall
| Inspection Nr | Date Opened | SIC | NAICS | Establishment Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 303273312 | 04/12/2000 | 1711 | 0 | Ceramic Cooling Tower Corporation |
Abstract: Employee #1 was part of a four-man work crew that was in the process of removing deteriorated concrete beams. The beams were approximately 7-in. by 8-in. by 15-ft-long and were part of the support system for the "fill" section cells of a 400-ft-diameter by 400-ft-high, natural draft, cooling tower. This work was part of a rehabilitation project for the lower outer ring within the structural pre-cast concrete "radical arm bends" of the tower. This is the area where the hot water is pumped to the top of the approximately 56-ft-wide by 22-ft-deep heat transfer area. The water then drains down across the "fill" which continues to breakup the water into smaller and smaller particles. The "fill" material is supported by concrete beams and cross beams and wire meshing. The defective beams were being removed by raising them and placing 4-in. by 4-in. wood planks underneath them, and then flipping and rolling them on their side. Employees were exposed to inadequate support planking used for a walking surface and a lack of guarding of the various gaps and holes in the walking, working surface at the concrete beams and cross beams. In addition, no horizontal lifelines had been installed in the work area so that fall protection could not be maintained while moving with, and sifting the concrete beams. Full body harness had been issued but because of a lack of effective tie off anchorage points there was no means of providing effective fall protection. During the removal of one of the beams a support plank broke and the Employee #1 who was standing with one foot on the plank and the other on a structural concrete beam lost his balance and fell approximately 14 ft to the next lower level. Employee #1 was knocked unconscious during the fall, sustained bruised ribs, contusions and multiple abrasions. Employee #1 was treated for his injuries but was not hospitalized.
| End Use | Project Type | Project Cost | Stories | Non-building Height | Fatality | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tower, tank, storage elevator | Alteration or rehabilitation | $50,000 to $250,000 | 400 | ||||
| Employee # | Inspection Nr | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation | Construction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 303273312 | Non Hospitalized injury | Bruise/Contus/Abras | Helpers, construction trades | Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: 50 feet Cause: Demolition Fatality Cause: Fall, other |
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