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: 1780266.015 - Island Mechanical Corporation

Inspection Information - Office: Hi-E-Honolulu

Investigation Summary

At 6:15 p.m. on June 9, 2024, Employee #1 was standing in front of a horizontal directional drill rig discussing the next steps with a coworker, the operator. The two employees were in the process of rebuilding the drill head when the coworker attempted to reverse rotate the drill head from the cab while Employee #1 manually manipulated the drill head with a heavy-duty break-out wrench. While performing this task, the coworker heard Employee #1 say something, and upon looking from inside the cab, he saw Employee #1 lying on the ground. The coworker stopped all drill functions and immediately called 911. The investigation revealed that Employee #1 had been struck in the face and head, presumably by the break-out wrench that was found lying under the drill head/shaft. Employee #1 was transported to the hospital with a major brain bleed and was later reported to have died on June 26, 2024, due to the injuries sustained during the incident.

Keywords: Brain, Brain Bleed, Drill, Face, Ground, Head, Shaft, Struck By, Traumatic Brain Injury, Unconsciousness, Unresponsive, Wrench