Inspection Detail

Inspection: 301136602 - Porter Warner Industrial

Inspection Information - Office: Oakland District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 9:45 a.m. on May 28, 2003, Employee #1, a truck driver, delivered merchandise to a client driving a straight-bed truck. The truck was equipped with detachable metal guardrails, two at the rear and five on each side. Upon arrival at the site, Employee #1 parked the truck along a street by the receiving area. He then removed the guardrails to unload the merchandise with a forklift. He had removed the five guardrails on one side of the trailer and one on the other side while standing on the ground. He tried to remove the next guardrail but it was stuck and he could not lift it out. He attempted to gain more leverage by using one of the previously removed guardrails as a ladder. The guardrail was 47 inches high and had four metal rails, spaced approximately 6 inches apart. While standing on the second rail, he was able to remove the stuck guardrail. Then when coming down, he lost his balance and fell backwards. As he fell, his right leg was wedged between the second and third rails. Employee #1 was hospitalized with a fractured leg below the knee.

Keywords: FRACTURE, GUARDRAIL, WORK RULES, CAUGHT BY, TRUCK, FALL, FLATBED TRUCK, LOST BALANCE, LEG, TRUCK DRIVER