Inspection Detail

Note: The following inspection has not been indicated as closed. OSHA citation items will be posted 30 (thirty) days after the employer receives the citation(s), except in cases of significant public interest. Posted citation items reflect any amendments to citations that are the result of a prompt settlement, which OSHA encourages. Employers and employee representatives will continue to receive copies of the citation(s) upon issuance.

Inspection: 1681813.015 - Feldmeier Equipment, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Nv-E-Reno 0953210

Investigation Summary

At 2:30 p.m. on June 29, 2023, an employee, a grinder and plasma cutter, was operating a Stahl 10-ton overhead gantry crane in the plasma cutter area to hoist a large rectangular piece of sheet metal, measuring 101-inch by 1/4-inch by 73-inch and weighing 614 pounds, from the plasma cutter to nearby metal sawhorses. Once the employee positioned the vertically suspended sheet metal above the stationary sawhorses, the sheet metal unexpectedly fell from the vertical clamp. The sheet metal momentarily landed vertically on the sawhorses before falling flat in the direction of the employee who was standing on the ground between the two sawhorses. As the sheet metal fell, it struck the employee and slammed him onto the concrete floor with enough force to fracture his upper right femur. Nearby employees immediately contacted emergency services ant the employee was transported to a regional medical center. The employee underwent surgery for his broken femur before being released from the hospital. On July 2, 2023, while at home, the employee began experiencing shortness of breath and his son called an ambulance. The employee was transported to the hospital, where he received further treatment. The employee died on July 3, 2023, due to peritonitis brought on by a perforated duodenal ulcer due to a right femur fracture.

Keywords: Blunt force, Blunt force trauma, Clamp, Equipment Failure, Falling Object, Fracture, Gantry Crane, Leg, Lifting, Overhead Crane, Sheet Metal, Shortness of breath, Struck By