Inspection Detail

Inspection: 125793877 - Dennis L. Schlumpf & Associates, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Sacramento District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 11:45 a.m. on April 8, 1997, Employee #1 and a coworker, both carpenters with Dennis l. Schlumpf and Associates, Inc., were part of a crew attaching wood siding to a two-story house. They had reached a height of between 18 and 19 ft on a metal frame scaffold that had been erected to a height of 13 ft across the south end of the house. It was just before lunch and the two workers were attaching the last piece just above their heads before having to raise the scaffold to the next level. While they were nailing on the piece siding, the scaffold moved backward away from the building and the two carpenters fell to the ground, which was moist and covered with soft pine needles. Employee #1 sustained a broken wrist and a head injury; the coworker suffered only minor bruises. Employee #1 was provided with first aid at the scene and was then transported by local fire department paramedics to Truckee Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee, CA. He was later transferred to Washoe Hospital in Reno, NV, for tests and observation of his head injury. Employee #1 was released from the hospital the following day. The scaffolding was resting on the standard metal base plates, but it was not on the additional 2 by 10 by 10 wooden bases that were required. When the scaffold was first erected, the ground had been frozen and snow had to be shoveled from around the legs. As time went on and the sun thawed the ground, the surface became soft and the back legs and feet of the scaffold sank when added pressures were exerted on them.

Keywords: FRACTURE, HEAD, UNSECURED, CARPENTER, WORK RULES, CONSTRUCTION, FALL, FALL PROTECTION, SCAFFOLD, UNSTABLE POSITION