Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1499197.015 - Buddys Newco, Llc

Inspection Information - Office: Tampa Area Office

Investigation Summary

At 3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 9, 2020, an employee was working at a furniture store. He was a manager. He was at an apartment complex. He was walking up a stairway. The support brackets for two steps on the stairway had corroded. The steps gave way, and the employee fell through the stairway. He fell 5 feet (1.5 m). He suffered a fractured ankle. His injury required surgery. The employee was hospitalized at 6:00 p.m. that same day. The employer was aware of the in-patient hospitalization at about 7:00 p.m. that same day. The employer notified OSHA 11:41 a.m. on Monday, October 12, 2020, of the in-patient hospitalization. The employee's wife had texted the firm's regional manager that her husband was scheduled to have surgery in the morning of the next day, which implied that he had not been sent home. The regional manager texted back, asking of employee's condition. He was kept informed of what the doctors were saying. He was never told that the employee was being sent home but, on the contrary, was told that he was having surgery. The employee's wife, who a surgical nurse, stated to the CSHO that a patient scheduled for surgery is always admitted. When asked why the hospitalization was reported late, the firm's human resources manager stated that it was because of the weekend and that she did not know she had to report it.

Keywords: Ankle, Broken Bone, Corrosion, Defective Equipment, Delivery Work, Fall, Fall From Elevation, Fracture, Reporting, Retail, Retail Store, Stair, Step, Support Posts, Walking Surface