Inspection Detail

Inspection: 303079313 - Cargill Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Baton Rouge Area Office

Investigation Summary

On the afternoon of February 22, 2000, Employee #1, an automotive technician for Cargill, Inc., who designed and positioned various safety sensors and devices in the plant and who worked with vendors and contractors to see that the equipment was properly installed, was making his rounds. He was walking on the catwalk on conveyor 45 in bin #311, probably checking the heat sensors on the conveyor bearings at this location. He left a folder containing diagrams on the catwalk and went through an opening to descend a ladder to a platform below the machine to look at a conveyor tensioning device. Apparently, Employee #1 fell approximately 122 ft from this lower platform, struck and dented a vent pipe before landing on a lower platform approximately 8 ft above ground. He was killed. The platform was enclosed by guardrails and screening, and provided access to a caged ladder going down to a lower platform. That platform also was provided with guardrails. It was speculated that after Employee #1 fell, he got up and climbed down a short ladder to the ground and walked approximately 60 ft into the basement of a dryer before collapsing on the floor. He was found by a coworker passing through the area. Employee #1 was transported to West Jefferson Hospital, where he was treated for six fractured ribs and a collapsed lung. He did not have any perceptible head injuries when admitted to the hospital, but his breathing was difficult. According to a thoracic and vascular surgeon, he died from oxygen deficiency to the brain. It is not clear how Employee #1 fell from the platforms, all of which were enclosed by screening or guardrails or a combination.

Keywords: RESPIRATORY, FRACTURE, LUNG, DESCENDING, RIB, FALL, ELEVATED WORK PLAT, WORK PLATFORM