Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1272879.015 - Kenny Construction Company

Inspection Information - Office: Chicago North Area Office

Investigation Summary

At 3:00 p.m. on October 23, 2017, Employee #1 and Coworkers #1 and #2, employed by a construction company, were engaged in demolition work on a 13 feet high train bridge. Employee #1 and Coworker #1, who was the foreman, were torch cutting one of the main bridge girders. After torch cutting the south end of the girder, Employee #1 moved to the north end to assist Coworker #1. Employee #1 connected his personal fall arrest system to a beam clamp that connected to the "tail end" of the girder, which was to remain in place after the rest of the girder's middle section was cut away. Employee #1 and Coworker #1 finished cutting the girder, and the main section dropped as planned, but the "tail end" also dropped. Employee #1, whose fall arrest equipment connected to the "tail end," was pulled by the falling girder and fell, a fall height of approximately 13 feet. Emergency services were called, and Employee #1 was transported to the hospital. He was admitted and treated for a fractured wrist and a severely injured back.

Keywords: Back, Bridge, Construction, Demolition, Fall, Fall Protection, Falling Object, Fracture, Girder, Wrist