Accident Report Detail
Accident Summary Nr: 201694130 - Employee Dies from Natural Causes
| Inspection Nr | Date Opened | SIC | NAICS | Establishment Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 314758145 | 11/23/2011 | 3441 | 332312 | Columbia Steel Inc |
Abstract: At 7:00 a.m. on November 23, 2011, Employee #1, who was employed by Columbia Steel, Inc., a steel fabricator in Rialto, CA, started his shift. Employee #1 was working with his supervisor and was grinding steel in the Detail Area. The Detail Area was where rough surfaces in the metal caused by imperfections or projecting weld areas were smoothed out. Employee #1 was using a hand-held, DeWALT grinder (Model number "DI84904", Serial Number 622-756) to smooth the edges of steel flanges (Identification Number FB31). The supervisor was 20 feet to 30 feet away, programming a machine, but did not have a direct line of site to Employee #1. The supervisor heard something fall and saw Employee #1 going to get a rag. The supervisor asked Employee #1 if he was okay, and he only said, "I got f***ed". The supervisor summoned emergency medical services. Employee #1 then said he could not breathe, and he sat down, while a coworker held him from the back and a second coworker held him from the front. Employee #1 lost consciousness before the paramedics arrived, and he died on the way to the hospital. No one witnessed the accident, and there was no evidence of trauma. The grinder was intact after the accident. The employee died of natural causes.
| Employee # | Inspection Nr | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 314758145 | Fatality | Other | Precision grinders, fitters and tool sharpeners |
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