Inspection Detail

Inspection: 125949230 - Schroeder Iron Corporation

Inspection Information - Office: Santa Ana District Office

Investigation Summary

On June 12, 2006, Employee #1 was working for a structural steel fabricator and erector. He was at a shopping mall construction site in Irvine, CA. The company was erecting columns in front of a building structure. Employee #1 was working as an iron worker. His coworker, the site superintendent, was working as a boom operator, and Employee #1 was directing him. They were installing a circular column approximately 6 inches in diameter and 28 feet tall. As the boom operator aligned the column flange and set it down onto the base anchor bolts, the flange jammed. Employee #1, holding the column, signaled the boom operator to raise the column slightly. As the boom operator inched the column up, it suddenly sprang off the studs and struck Employee #1 in the face. Employee #1 sustained blunt trauma injuries to his head, a nose fracture, and lacerations to his face. He was hospitalized for those injuries and for treatment for bruises, contusions, and abrasions. Employee #1 was a full-time payroll employee with no other contracts.

Keywords: FRACTURE, CRANE BOOM, LOAD SHIFT, SUSPENDED LOAD, CONSTRUCTION, STEEL COLUMN, STEEL ERECTION, STRUCK BY, CRANE OPERATOR, FACE