Inspection Detail

Inspection: 18850966 - L. H. Cranston And Sons

Inspection Information - Office: Department Of Labor, Licensing, And Regulation Division Of Labor And Industry Maryland Occupational Safety And Health

Investigation Summary

EMPLOYEE #1 AND ANOTHER EMPLOYEE WERE ADDING DUCTWORK 9 FEET ABOVE A CONCRETE FLOOR IN A PARTIALLY ENCLOSED WAREHOUSE. STRIP HANGERS WERE ALREADY IN PLACE. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS USING A 6 FOOT STEP LADDER. HIS COWORKER, ON THE OTHER END OF THE DUCTWORK, WAS USING AN 8 FOOT STEPLADDER. BOTH LADDERS WERE IN SATISFACTORY CONDITION. WITH ONE END OF THE DUCTWORK SUPPORTED ON THE FIFTH STEP OF THE 8 FOOT LADDER AND HIS END RESTING ON THE "SHELF" OF THE 6 FOOT LADDER, HE CLIMBED TO THE FOURTH STEP OF HIS LADDER TO GUIDE THE END OF THE DUCT INTO PLACE. AFTER PICKING UP HIS END OF THE DUCT HE LOST HIS BALANCE, POSSIBLY FROM A GUST OF WIND, AND FELL. HE STRUCK THE END OF A METAL STEEL WALL AND BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE LADDER IN THE PROCESS. HIS ACTUAL INJURY, IF ANY, WAS OBSCURED BY 3 FUSED VERTEBRAE BELOW HIS NECK, WHICH HE HAD ACQUIRED FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE.

Keywords: HIGH WIND, STEPLADDER, LADDER, CONSTRUCTION, BACK, FALL, LOST BALANCE