Inspection Detail

Inspection: 119731230 - Marin Municipal Water District

Inspection Information - Office: American Canyon District Office

Investigation Summary

A water district repair crew had three street excavations covered with metal street plates and was removing the plates to start work. The plates are lifted by inserting a "T" headed hook into a 1 3/4 inch by 6 1/2 inch slot in the center of the 5 foot by 10 foot by 1 inch thick steel plates, and turning the T 90 degrees from the axis of the slot. The plates should have 1/2 inch thick metal tabs welded 90 degrees to the axis of the slot to align the T and to prevent it from turning. The third plate to be lifted had bowed in the center from use and was turned over. The tabs that had been on the bottom were torched off, and no new tabs had been welded onto the new bottom side. Employee #1 inserted the T in the slot and turned it 90 degrees, then held and moved the plate as it was being lifted so that it would not hit a parked vehicle. During this move, the T twisted and came out of the slot, allowing the plate to slide down Employee #1's leg and hit his foot. Safety-toed boots probably prevented a more serious injury. Employee #1 should have made sure tabs were on the plate before lifting, and management should have made sure that the plate in use was complete with tabs.

Keywords: UNSECURED, WORK RULES, METAL SHEET, FOOT