Inspection Detail

Inspection: 125948877 - Vido Artukovich & Sons Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Santa Ana District Office

Investigation Summary

On August 30, 2005, Employee #1, a laborer, and a coworker were moving and adjusting trench shoring components while laying new steel pipeline utilities at a residential housing construction site. To relocate a trench box and steel trench plate, Employee #1 attached a 3,267-pound 8-foot by 10-foot by 1-inch steel plate to a Caterpillar 325 excavator, operated by the coworker. The area was cleared of all personnel, and the excavator lifted the plate out of the trench and set it down vertically on the pavement. As the plate was lowered to a horizontal position, the coworker noticed that the rigging appeared to be loose. At the same time, Employee #1 rushed toward the plate's hazard zone. The rigging disengaged and the plate fell, striking Employee #1. He was crushed and killed by the plate.

Keywords: STEEL PLATE, RIGGING, CONSTRUCTION, TRENCH, CRUSHED, SHORING, STRUCK BY, FALLING OBJECT