Inspection Detail

Inspection: 305478034 - Contractor'S Employment Services Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Investigation Summary

On January 24, 2005, a welder, Employee #1 was moving a 17-ton I-beam. Employee #1 and Employee #2 (forklift driver) were moving the 46-in.-high and 50-ft-long I-beam. Two 3-in., schedule-120 carbon steel pipes were positioned under the beam to allow it to roll. As the I-beam rolled forward, Employee #1 repositioned the pipes from the rear of the beam to the front. At the time of the accident, Employee #1 motioned to Employee #2 to stop the forklift so he could remove one length of the pipe. As Employee #1 pulled the pipe from under the I-beam, the beam rolled forward forcing the pipe to the ground. Employee #1's right hand was underneath it, causing a crushing injury to his right hand. Two of his fingers were amputated, and his ring finger was partially amputated. The accident occurred in a 1-acre staging area of a metal recycling facility, where beams were cut and sometimes welded together for future use.

Keywords: BEAM, FINGER, WORK RULES, WELDER, CRUSHED, MANUAL MAT HANDLING, PIPE, FALLING OBJECT, HAND