Inspection Detail

Inspection: 119627586 - R & L Brosamer Inc

Inspection Information - Office: American Canyon District Office

Investigation Summary

At 11:20 a.m. on July 3, 2003, Employee #1 was fatally injured when hit by the bucket of a Komatsu excavator, Model PC 750LC, and crushed against a north-facing earth bank at the new Trancas bridge worksite. The excavator was removing soil from the north descent area and placing it in dump trucks for off-haul. The haul road was west of the excavator and the dig area was to the east. Employee #1, with the excavator operator, pushed a 2-inch by 4-inch stake into the haul road for a marker post, and Employee #1 painted it orange. The operator returned to loading trucks. Having dumped a bucket into the rear trailer, the operator swung back for another load. Employee #1 stepped off the haul road, proceeding down hill to the east, to return to his work station as a "root-picker" east of the excavator. His job was to watch for unacceptable foreign material in the dirt as it was dug out. Employee #1 walked down the right side of the excavator. The operator's position is at the left front corner. The excavator swung right to get another bucket load when the bucket struck Employee #1 in the midsection and crushed him against the dirt bank. The operator told fireman on site after the accident that he only saw Employee #1 at last second but could not stop the bucket's swing before hitting Employee #1 in the lower back. Employee #1 died of "traumatic pelvic injuries" at 1:25 p.m. on July 3, 2003, at the hospital.

Keywords: EXCAVATION, CONSTRUCTION, CRUSHED, PELVIS, EXCAVATOR, STRUCK BY, CONTUSION