Inspection Detail

Inspection: 105224000 - Christian Logging Co Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Eugene

Investigation Summary

EMPLOYEE #1 WAS WORKING AS A TEMPORARY FLAGGER/ROADWATCHMAN AT A CABLE LOGGING SITE. THE EMPLOYER WAS USING A SKYLINE SETUP WHICH HAD A GRAVITY FED CARRIAGE AND ABOUT 4000 FEET OF CABLE. THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT, A ROAD CHANGE WAS TO TAKE PLACE. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS INSTRUCTED BY THE SECOND RIGGER TO STOP THE SKYLINE WHEN IT WAS HIGH ENOUGH TO ALLOW A LOADED LOG TRUCK TO PASS. EMPLOYEE #1 FAILED TO STAY AT HIS WORK STATION, AS HE HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED. INSTEAD, HE WALKED DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 300 YARDS TO WHERE THE LOG TRUCK WAS WAITING. WHEN THE SKYLINE WAS RAISED, EMPLOYEE #1 BLEW HIS STOP WHISTLE, AND THE LOG TRUCK DROVE AWAY. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS WALKING TO THE UPHILL WARMING FIRE (HIS WORK STATION), WHEN A SIDEWASH OF THE SKYLINE CUT LOOSE AND SWEPT TOWARD EMPLOYEE #1. THE CABLE STRUCK HIM ON HIS LEFT SIDE, BREAKING HIS LEFT LEG AND TOSSING HIM OVER THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. HE LANDED ON HIS HEAD, SUFFERING A BROKEN NECK. HE DIED INSTANTLY. HOWEVER, HE WAS NOT MISSED FOR AT LEAST TWO HOURS. NO ONE KNEW THAT HE WAS NEAR THE LINES WHEN THE ROAD CHANGE OCCURRED. WHEN THE RIGGING SLINGER NOTICED A TRUCK WAITING AT THE INCOMMING FLAGGER'S STATION, HE BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT THE WHEREABOUTS OF EMPLOYEE #1. WORK WAS STOPPED AND A SEARCH BEGUN. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS FOUND BY THE HOOK TENDER AND THE SECOND LOADER. WHEN FOUND, HE HAD NO VITAL SIGNS, AND APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN DEAD FOR SOME TIME. AUTHORITIES WERE CONTACTED VIA THE TWO WAY RADIO SYSTEM. THE COUNTY SHERIFF AND INSURANCE INSPECTORS CAME TO THE SCENE. EMPLOYEE #1'S BODY WAS TAKEN TO MORTUARY FACILITIES WHERE AN AUTOPSY COULD BE PERFORMED.

Keywords: FRACTURE, WIRE ROPE, WORK RULES, FLAGMAN, NECK, STRUCK BY, LOGGING, DRAGLINE