Inspection Detail

Inspection: 119947190 - C.A. Rasmussen, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Van Nuys Mining & Tunneling District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 4:30 p.m. on a day of light rain, Employee #1 was driving a 35-ton CAT truck, hauling borax ore from a drying pond to a storage area. On each of the last four days he had made approximately 60 of these 12 to 14 minute round trips between the pond and the storage area. The road was covered with borax ore, which took on the consistency of clay when wet. Employee #1 was driving at approximately 20 mph when he came into the storage area and began to slide. His truck slid about 100 ft before the wheels caught on some dry dirt and the truck and its load flipped over on its side. Employee #1, who was suspended in his seat, released his seat belt and fell into the door frame, dislocating his shoulder and fracturing his wrist. He underwent major surgery as an outpatient two weeks after the accident. Employee #1's speed at the time of the accident was well within the safety standards; he had been driving the same truck for this employer for two years.

Keywords: FRACTURE, SHOULDER, CONSTRUCTION, TRUCK, DISLOCATED, FALL, SLIPPERY SURFACE, LOST CONTROL, OVERTURN, WRIST