Inspection Detail

Inspection: 119762870 - Louisiana Pacific Arcata Particleboard

Inspection Information - Office: Redding District Office

Investigation Summary

Employee #1, a green end operator at a particleboard manufacturing plant, had the #4 Palmer locked out to do a normal task. He decided to also fix a leak that he had earlier noticed on the overhead screw conveyor that fed the Palmer. A nearby ladder was too short, so he went to a boiler room and retrieved a Howard type 1A, 8 ft stepladder, rated for 300 lb. He climbed to the third step from the top and made the repair. As he began to descend, the ladder started to tip to the side where he first stepped down. He tried to grab a nearby brace, but was only able to touch it when he and the ladder fell over. Employee #1 landed on his side and suffered a cracked fifth vertebra. The plastic and metal stepladder was almost new and in good condition. The cause of the accident was not evident.

Keywords: FRACTURE, STEPLADDER, LADDER, DESCENDING, FALL, LOST BALANCE, VERTEBRA, UNSTABLE POSITION