Inspection Detail

Inspection: 304473119 - Gulf Island, L.L.C.

Inspection Information - Office: Baton Rouge Area Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 2:00 p.m. on September 13, 2001, Employee # 1 was working at the point pipe rack along with another employee, who was operating a heavy-duty forklift. Employee # 1's job was to tack weld inserts inside some heavy duty pipe legs that would become part of an offshore oil platform. Employee #1 was near the point pipe rack as the forklift operator began to pick up a deck leg section of pipe 20 feet long and 1 inch thick. This pipe weighed approximately 438 pounds per foot. A second pipe measuring 30 feet, 2 inches long and 2 inches thick was immediately behind the deck leg pipe on the rack. The second pipe weighed approximately 762 pounds per foot. The forklift operator told Employee #1 to back away from the pipe rack, while he lifted the deck leg pipe onto the 7-foot,10-inch long forks. As he proceeded to do this, it is believed that the long forks also went under the second pipe. As the machine began to make its lift, the second pipe rolled off the forks onto the rack, where it rolled a short distance. It then rolled backwards toward the first pipe. Employee #1, who was standing nearby, suddenly entered the zone between the two pipes with the intention of putting a wooden chock on the rack to stop the movement of the second pipe. While placing the chock, his head became caught between the two pipes, killing him.

Keywords: FRACTURE, HEAD, UNSECURED, CAUGHT BETWEEN, CRUSHED, PIPE