Inspection Detail

Inspection: 110345618 - Litton Avondale Industries

Inspection Information - Office: Baton Rouge Area Office

Investigation Summary

Between 9:45 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on April 12, 1994, Employee #1 was using an Allis Chalmers forklift, #4972, to move a heavy tool box to a location on wet dock #2. There were no eye witnesses but it assumed that after placing the tool box he backed up the lift with the fork dragging on the concrete. As he crossed a 2 ft 10 1/2 in. by 3 ft 2 in. steel plate cover, it was partially removed from a 1 ft 7 in. by 2 ft 3 in. opening in the dock. The cover had an 1 1/2 in. angle iron support to keep it from slipping into the hole. Employee #1 parked the forklift and walked back toward the tool box, where he may have stepped on the corner of the partially opened and displaced cover, causing it to strike him in the face. Employee #1 fell through the dock opening, possibly striking the back of his head. He fell into the water below the dock where he drowned. Employee #1 was removed from the water between approximately 4:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. on April 13, 1994.

Keywords: HEAD, DOCK, INDUSTRIAL TRUCK, WALKING SURFACE, STRUCK BY, DROWN, FACE, INATTENTION, WATER