Inspection Detail

Inspection: 305356941 - Cox Industrial Services Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Santa Ana District Office

Investigation Summary

On March 1, 2006, Employee #1, a supervisor, and four coworkers were installing a new hot water tank in a 30-foot by 30-foot equipment room. The cylindrical tank was 7 feet high, 42 inches in diameter, and weighed approximately 1,900 pounds. The tank was moved into the room horizontally. There was a 4-inch high concrete pad on which the tank was to be installed vertically. To raise the tank in the vertical position, two coworkers installed three eye bolts in the concrete ceiling to hang three winches. These eye bolts were installed through metal anchors set into the concrete after drilling holes in the ceiling. Metal chains from two of the winches were attached to the bottom part of the tank and a third winch chain was attached to top of the tank. As the two coworkers were pulling the winch chain to elevate the top of the tank, the eye bolt and the anchor holding the winch failed and pulled out of the concrete ceiling. At this point, the tank was almost vertical and the three legs were only a few inches above the floor pad. The tank then fell to the floor, pivoted on one of its legs, and fell onto Employee #1, pinning him against the wall. He suffered a fractured scapula in his left shoulder and a laceration on his left arm. He was hospitalized for two days.

Keywords: CHAIN, FRACTURE, INSTALLING, SHOULDER, PINNED, EQUIPMENT FAILURE, STRUCK BY, FALLING OBJECT, WINCH, WATER TANK