Inspection Detail

Inspection: 101450153 - General Electric, Turbine Projects Dept.

Inspection Information - Office: Augusta Area Office

Investigation Summary

A GROUP OF MILLWRIGHTS AND THEIR HELPERS WERE CONSTRUCTING A CONVEYOR FRAMEWORK. A CONVEYOR APRON, ROUGHLY 3 FEET BY 12 FEET, WEIGHING OVER 1000 POUNDS, WAS EMPLACED THROUGH THE USE OF A CRANE AND CHOKERS ATTACHED TO THE STRUCTURAL STEEL OF THE CONVEYOR. BEFORE THE CONVEYOR APRON WAS BOLTED IN PLACE, THE CHOKER WAS REMOVED FROM THE APRON BY A MILLWRIGHT, WHO THEN BEGAN RIGGING ANOTHER APRON. A WILLWRIGHT HELPER IN THE CONVEYOR PIT (UNDER THE APRON) BEGAN WORK ASSUMING THAT THE APRON WAS SUPPORTED BY THE CONVEYOR STRUCTURE AND CRANE. A SECOND HELPER OBSERVED THE CHOKER BEING REMOVED FROM THE APRON, BUT ASSUMED IT WAS BOLTED IN PLACE AND BEGAN GRINDING AND KNOCKING THE PADEYES OFF. THE APRON SUDDENLY SLIPPED OFF ITS SUPPORT AND FELL 9 FEET INTO THE PIT. THE HELPER ON THE APRON RECEIVED A LEG FRACTURE. THE HELPER IN THE CONVEYOR PIT ALSO RECEIVED A LEG FRACTURE. THE MILLWRIGHT WHO WAS WORKING IN THE PIT RECEIVED A BACK INJURY. POOR COMMUNICATION AND A LACK OF TRAINING CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.

Keywords: UNSECURED, WORK RULES, UNTRAINED, LEG, FRACTURE, CONSTRUCTION, BACK, STRUCK BY, FALLING OBJECT