Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1132428.015 - Saipan Lau Lau Development Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Honolulu Area Office

Investigation Summary

At 9:06 p.m. on March 13, 2016, Employee #1, a heating and air conditioning worker, was troubleshooting an inoperative service elevator assisting Employee #2, a building maintenance technician. Employee #2 noticed a slight gap between elevator doors and requested assistance of Employee #1. Using a screwdriver, Employee #1 checked for debris around the elevator door sill keeping the doors from closing. Since no obstructions were found, Employee #1 told Employee #2 to remain on the 1st floor, while Employee #1 went to the 2nd floor to access the top of the elevator car to check for obstructions at the car top. Once on the 2nd floor, Employee #1 used the elevator emergency door key retrieved from the maintenance office to unlock the doors and gain access to the top of the elevator car. Employee #1 asked Employee #2 to close the elevator door by pushing the doors together. Shortly thereafter, Employee #2 heard the elevator move upward and saw the 7th floor indicator light flashing. At about 6:15 PM, the building maintenance technician contacted the facility maintenance supervisor and notified the front desk to call 911. At about 6:40 PM, the facility maintenance supervisor arrived, contacted a local elevator representative to assist in locating Employee #1. At around 6:50 PM, the elevator representative arrived and found Employee #1 at the bottom of the service elevator shaft. Employee #1 was transported by ambulance to the emergency room. Employee #1 died from intracranial hemorrhage.

Keywords: Caught Between, Elevator, Fall, Fall Protection, Lockout/Tagout, Struck Against