Inspection Detail

Inspection: 301556452 - Dept Of Agriculture-Ars-Midwest Area-Plant Introd.

Inspection Information - Office: Des Moines Area Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 7:10 a.m. on June 13, 2008, Employee #1 and a coworker were returning from the field near the Plant Introduction Center in Ames, Iowa after putting up photoperiod shade houses. Employee #1 and the coworker were traveling in a Polaris Professional UTV 4 by 4, Serial Number 4XARD50A23D167546. Employee #1 was wearing a seat belt and the coworker was not wearing a seatbelt. As the employees were nearing the intersection of two dirt roads in the field, the Polaris began to slide and then it tipped over. Ames, Iowa received 8.89 in. of rain in the previous two weeks. The roll over protection struck Employee #1's right foot, ankle and calf. As a result, he injured his right foot, ankle and a soft tissue of his calf. The coworker righted the UTV, and then he and Employee #1 returned to the Plant Introduction Center. Employee #1 waited to report the injury to his supervisor. Once Employee #1 reported his injury, he was taken to Mary Greeley Medical Center, Ames, Iowa. Employee #1 was treated and released. He returned to work on June 16, 2008 and was performing paperwork in the office on the week of June 16, 2008. On June 23, 2008, Employee #1 returned to work and notified his supervisor that he was ready to return to field work. Employee #1, along with 10 other employees, prepared labels for field stakes. At approximately 7:30 a.m. on June 26, 2008, 10 employees and the supervisor loaded into a van and headed for a field, located northwest of Glidden, Iowa. They arrived at the field at approximately 8:30 a.m., and Employee #1 along with the 10 other employees began stand counting and placing stakes in the field. The temperature at the time was approximately 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Fifteen minutes later, Employee #1 fell down. The other employees and the supervisor came to Employee #1's side and called for the ambulance. No employees or the supervisor were trained in the first aid. A first responder from Carroll County showed up approximately six minutes after the emergency call was placed. Employee #1 was taken to St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll, Iowa for treatment. The supervisor was informed that Employee #1 died at 9:20 a.m. on June 23, 2008. The cause of death was pulmonary embolism due to deep venous thrombosis.

Keywords: AGRICULTURE, ROLL-OVER, SEAT BELT, ABRASION, STRUCK BY, MOTOR VEHICLE, PULMONARY EMBOLISM, ANKLE, CONTUSION, FOOT