Accident Report Detail
Accident Summary Nr: 201030152 - Employee injured when whaler falls on his leg
| Inspection Nr | Date Opened | SIC | NAICS | Establishment Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 120326434 | 06/13/1996 | 1799 | 0 | Doty Brothers |
Abstract: On June 12, 1996, Employee #1, a foreman with Doty Brothers Construction, was helping to install a concrete block/manhole in a 13 ft long by 9 ft wide by 9 ft deep excavation in a road. As part of the excavation's protective system, two hydraulic whalers had been placed in it, one 3 ft below ground level and one 5 ft below ground level. After the concrete block had been placed in the cavity, Employee #1 and another worker prepared to remove the protective system. The two men descended into the cavity to release the pressure of the bottom whaler, but as soon as Employee #1 released the pressure through one valve, the top whaler fell down on the bottom one, striking Employee #1's right leg. He sustained a severe fracture and was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center in Long Beach, CA. The accident happened because the manufacturer's recommendations were not obtained or followed, and because the support systems were not securely connected to prevent falling. In addition, the hydraulic whaler was not removed in a manner that protected workers from being struck by members of the support system, and the worker had not been trained in the safe removal of the system.
| End Use | Project Type | Project Cost | Stories | Non-building Height | Fatality | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highway, road, street | Alteration or rehabilitation | ||||||
| Employee # | Inspection Nr | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation | Construction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 120326434 | Hospitalized injury | Fracture | Supervisors, n.e.c. | Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Trenching, installing pipe Fatality Cause: Collapse of structure |
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