Inspection Detail

Inspection: 112128376 - Pabon Construction

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Investigation Summary

On February 13, 1995, Employee #1, of Pablo Construction Company, was in the basket of an aerial lift inside a large cistern under construction at a municipal water company. He was the signalman for the operator of a rented Grove crane (model TMS250C, with a 30 foot fixed jib) that was stationed outside the walls of the cistern, hoisting Glu-lam beams and purlins into position across the top of the cistern as support for a wooden roof that would be installed later. After Employee #1 guided a purlin or beam into position, he fastened the beam or purlin after it had been set. One particular lift involved hoisting three purlins that were suspended from the hook by synthetic slings. While the crane operator attempted to set the first of the three purlins, the crane tipped over and the boom struck the lift basket that Employee #1 was in. He sustained a comminuted fracture of the right elbow, contusions, and microscopic hematuria. Measurements taken during the investigation indicated that the crane had been used at a radius beyond those listed on the load charts. Note Seven on the load chart states: Do not operate at a radius or boom length where capacities are not listed. At these positions, the machine may overturn without any load on the hook. Neither company had an engineer-designed erection plan for installing the beam and purlin. The crane operator was licensed by the city and had operated the crane for approximately four years.

Keywords: FRACTURE, SIGNALMAN, WORK RULES, CONSTRUCTION, STRUCK BY, ELBOW, CONTUSION, OVERTURN