Inspection Detail

Inspection: 111793030 - Rudolph & Sletten, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Foster City District Office

Investigation Summary

Employee #1, a laborer, was carrying 2 ft by 4 ft construction slings up a 12 ft gang ladder to the second floor level. The ladder was properly installed, tied off at the top and bottom, and had hand rails extending 3 ft above the top. On his last trip up the ladder, Employee #1 had only a small length of rope in his hand. He slipped when he was about 3 or 4 ft above the ground and fell backward. He struck his right hip against the rail post at the bottom of the ladder, lacerating his right buttock. His body twisted as he landed on his left leg, and his foot became entangled in the flooring rebar. He then rolled over his ankle, breaking it in three places. Employee #1 was taken to the hospital, where he underwent surgery for 4 hours to insert two pins and a plate in his ankle. He remained in the hospital for 4 days. At the time this report was written, it was too soon to determine if there would be any permanent disability, but Employee #1 was not expected to return to work for at least 6 to 8 weeks. The accident probably could not have been prevented, but the severity of the injuries might have been lessened by the use of a handrail on the side of the ladder and a platform covering the rebar at the bottom of ladder .

Keywords: FRACTURE, COVER, REBAR, LADDER, SLIP, CONSTRUCTION, HANDRAIL, LACERATION, FALL, ANKLE