Inspection Detail

Inspection: 126108448 - West Basin Water Recycling

Inspection Information - Office: Los Angeles District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 9:10 a.m. on January 16, 2003, Employee #1 and a coworker were checking a Lime Saturated Water Tank to find a problem that had been diagnosed from a remote control room. The company is engaged in wastewater treatment. The operating is all computerized remote control except sometimes employees need to climb the treatment tank to calibrate, check and clean. The employees had climbed the tank, did some checking, and were climbing down. The coworker climbed down first and stood on the ground waiting for Employee #1 to come down. As Employee #1 was descending, the coworker witnessed him slip and fall from the second and third rung of the tank. Lime Saturated Tank is around 15 ft high and built with 14 rungs of fixed ladder for employees to climb. Employee #1 fell around 12 ft from the ladder, feet first and hit his head on the retaining wall. Employee #1 sustained a head and lower back injuries and was hospitalized.

Keywords: HEAD, MAINTENANCE, LADDER, SLIP, FIXED LADDER, BACK, FALL, WATER TANK