Inspection Detail

Inspection: 120141312 - Terra Tile Llc

Inspection Information - Office: Modesto District Office

Investigation Summary

On December 30, 2003 Employee #1, a production manager, was working alone at a tile manufacturing plant while attempting to repair a hole in the burner system. He placed a plywood pallet on the forks of a forklift and raised it approximately 10 ft in the air. The employee then placed a ladder against the edge of the raised pallet in order to step onto the top of the pallet-platform. The feet of the ladder were on debris that had come out of the burner. The employee climbed and descended the ladder successfully two or three times. On the third or fourth climb, the ladder slid out from under him. Employee #1 fell to the floor landing on his buttocks and lower back crushing a vertebra.

Keywords: REPAIR, LADDER, BACK, CRUSHED, INDUSTRIAL TRUCK, FALL, PALLET, VERTEBRA