Inspection Detail

Inspection: 300788841 - Arise-Waco Scaffolding And Equipment

Inspection Information - Office: San Diego District Office

Investigation Summary

At 7:30 a.m. on March 4, 2002, Employee #1, a yardman, had fractured his lower left leg in the company yard. Employee #1 was securing a load of scaffolding materials on a flatbed truck, using standard manila rope, while standing on the ground next to the truck. Employee #1 had made his loop in the rope and was pulling the rope taunt when the rope broke, causing him to lose his balance and fall backward to the ground. Although he made an attempt to break his fall with his hands, he struck the ground very hard. When Employee #1 attempted to get up, he felt considerable pain in his left leg and looked down to see his lower left leg bent back away from the leg at a different angle. Employee #1 called for his supervisor, in the immediate vicinity of the truck, and told him that his leg was broken. The supervisor used his radio to report the injury to the operations manager who called Emergency Medical Services. The injured worker was made comfortable until paramedics arrived in about 8 to 10 minutes and transported the injured worker to a local trauma center. The emergency room examination revealed that both the tibia and fibula were fractured and an operation to set the fractured leg was completed that afternoon.

Keywords: FRACTURE, ROPE, FALL, FLATBED TRUCK, LEG, SCAFFOLD