Inspection Detail

Inspection: 119941045 - Advanco Constructor

Inspection Information - Office: Van Nuys District Office

Investigation Summary

On October 14, 1999, Employee #1, a pipe fitter, was working at a water treatment fatality. He was attempting to remove a large "castle nut" that was on the upper tension rod of a filter press. The nut was approximately 10 ft above the floor. Employee #1 was standing on a ladder to remove the nut. Directly below the nut, was a 6 in. by 4 in. steel pipe swedge 13 in. away from where he was working. Employee #1 was measuring the nut threads as he removed the nut so that he and another employee could tie a rope to it to lower it down when it was completely loose. Employee #1 thought he had another 0.5 in. of thread when the nut came loose and began to fall. Employee #1 tried to hold it, but the weight of the nut (approximately 50 lbs.) sent his hand into the pipe swedge below, breaking his little finger of his right hand. He was taken to the hospital as a result of his injuries.

Keywords: ROPE, LADDER, CRUSHED, PIPE, HAND, WATER