Inspection Detail

Inspection: 305416299 - Tri-Gas & Oil Company, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Department Of Labor, Licensing, And Regulation Division Of Labor And Industry Maryland Occupational Safety And Health

Investigation Summary

On September 24, 2002, Employee #1 pulled a company fuel truck that was stuck in a ditch, with a wrecker truck equipped with a winch. Employee #2 who operated a wrecker truck also equipped with a winch first stabilized the fuel truck. Employee #2 pulled from the side of the fuel truck until it became level at which time Employee #2 stopped pulling. Then Employee #1 who operated the larger wrecker pulled with his winch. Employee #1 pulled the fuel truck, which moved approximately 2 feet forward, when the chain broke at the end by the tow hook. At the time of the accident, the chain went flying approximately 50 feet, when it struck Employee #1 in the face and head knocking him into the ditch. The Safety Director for the company who stood between the two wreckers and directed the operation was the first to reach Employee #1. Employee #1 laid on his back under water, due to heavy rains that filled the ditch. The Safety Director immediately lifted Employee #1's head and saw a severe head injury with a large amount of blood on his face. The victim was conscious but was having difficulty breathing. A telephone call was made to Emergency Medical Services, and a helicopter arrived in approximately 15 minutes. Employee #1 was attended to by paramedics, and flown to a Shock Trauma Unit at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. The injured employee died three weeks later because of his injuries.

Keywords: CHAIN, HEAD, LOSS OF BLOOD, FALL, STRUCK BY, CONCUSSION, FLYING OBJECT