Inspection Detail

Inspection: 120273230 - Erreca'S Inc

Inspection Information - Office: San Diego District Office

Investigation Summary

On October 9, 1999, Employees #1 and #2, heavy equipment operators for Erreca's, Inc., were preparing to grade a large residential construction site for Shea Homes. The job grading foreman was transporting them to their equipment, which was parked at the top a hill, when his truck became stuck in the mud. The foreman called for Employee #3, another grade check foreman, who drove down the temporary road in his Ford F250 4x4 truck. The job grading foreman told Employee #3 to take Employees #1 and #2 to their designated work vehicles, and all three got into the cab of Employee #3's truck. To avoid getting stuck in the muddy turnaround area, he decided to back up the steep road. Because the three employees were crowded into the cab, Employee #1 could not fully turn around and he was using his side mirrors as he reversed the truck. One of the other employees asked him if he was in gear 4 low, so Employee #3 looked down and noticed he was in gear 4 high. When he took his eyes from the mirrors, the truck went off the side of the temporary road and rolled down the embankment, overturning several times. Employees #2 and #3 suffered minor cuts and bruises. Employee #1, who was closest to the passenger door, sustained possible head or neck injuries, and was killed.

Keywords: EMBANKMENT, VEHICLE, ROLL-OVER, CONSTRUCTION, STEEP GRADE, PICKUP TRUCK, BACKING UP, INATTENTION