Inspection Detail

Inspection: 120098256 - Valley Steel Construction

Inspection Information - Office: Fresno District Office

Investigation Summary

Employee #1 was part of a work crew demolishing a packing shed. After removing the skin of the building, they surveyed the building to plan a safe means of disassembly. Removal of the bow trusses, which were the main roof supports, was saved for last. They removed three of the four trusses without any problem and then did a visual inspection of the other pipe columns before proceeding; all appeared to be in good shape. The crew cut the two ends of the next truss loose and were using a forklift to lower it when one of the pipe columns fell over. The girts were still attached and changed the direction in which the beam landed. His coworkers had cleared out of the anticipated fall zone, but the column struck Employee #1, fracturing his right femur.

Keywords: BEAM, FRACTURE, DEMOLITION, DISMANTLING, COLLAPSE, UNSECURED, CONSTRUCTION, STRUCK BY, LEG, OVERTURN