Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 201770237 - EMPLOYEE CRUSHED, ASPHYXIATED AFTER PARKING GARAGE COLLAPSE

Accident Summary Nr: 201770237 -- Report ID: 0213900 -- Event Date: 10/17/1997
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
301318234	10/17/1997	1541	0	Keating/Massett Joint Venture

Abstract: On October 17, 1997, Employee #1 was performing demolition work on a parking garage. A section of cement referred to as a "blowout" or "overpour" protruded from the outside wall of a parking garage. The protrusion measured approximately 30 ft. by 5 ft. with a thickness from 15 in. to 36 in. The protrusion was attached to the building only along its upper edge. The protrusion needed to be removed so a new building could be built immediately next to the existing one. The employer was going to use a machine similar to a band saw to cut the protrusion off the building. Employee #1 was shoveling dirt from beneath the protrusion so the saw blade could be placed around it. When the dirt was removed, the cement lost some of its support and collapsed, crushing and asphyxiating the employee. The employee died of asphyxia.

Keywords: ASPHYXIATED, DEMOLITION, DISMANTLING, COLLAPSE, BUILDING COLLAPSE, WORK RULES, CRUSHED, UNSTABLE SURFACE, SHOVEL

Accident Details
End Use		Project Type		Project Cost	Stories	Non-building Height	Fatality
Commercial building		New project or new addition		$50,000 to $250,000			X

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation	Construction
1	301318234			Fatality	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Demolition Fatality Cause: Collapse of structure

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