Inspection Detail

Inspection: 306869033 - Wonsey Tree Service

Inspection Information - Office: Indiana Department Of Labor

Inspection Nr: 306869033

Report ID: 0551800

Date Opened: 04/16/2004

Site Address:
Wonsey Tree Service
Main Street & Railroad Crossing
Kendallville, IN 46755

Mailing Address:
10345 North Grafton Road, Alma, MI 48801

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:1795

NAICS: 238910/Site Preparation Contractors

Inspection Type: Planned

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Safety

Close Conference: 05/12/2004

Planning Guide: Safety-Construction

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 07/15/2005

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	362665309

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	2					2
Current Violations	1			1		2
Initial Penalty	$3,000	$0	$0	$0	$0	$3,000
Current Penalty	$1,125	$0	$0	$0	$0	$1,125
FTA Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Violation Items
#	Citation ID	Citaton Type	Standard Cited	Issuance Date	Abatement Due Date	Current Penalty	Initial Penalty	FTA Penalty	Contest	Latest Event	Note
1.	01001	Other	2200080101 2	06/15/2004	06/18/2004	$0	$1,500	$0		I - Informal Settlement
2.	01002	Serious	19260021 B02	06/15/2004	11/12/2004	$1,125	$1,500	$0		I - Informal Settlement

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 170761506

Event: 04/12/2004

Employee Is Killed When Vertical Metal Wall Fell on Him

At approximately 1:11 a.m. on April 12, 2004, an employee was performing salvage operations. The employee was cutting the bottom corners with a torch and then pushing the vertical walls over with a backhoe to finish cutting up the metal wall. The 6-ft by 10-ft by 0.375-in. thick vertical metal wall of a railroad car fell on him, killing him. Apparently, the vertical metal wall was not supported or stabilized to prevent it from falling. During the interviews with the foreman and other coworkers, they stated that there was no work procedures implemented or training program on the safe way to perform the salvage operation. The foreman stated that he believes the employee cut too far into the corners causing the vertical metal wall to fall. After cutting the bottom corners, there was no bracing or support to stabilize the vertical metal wall to prevent it from falling. The employee could not get out of the way of the falling metal wall. Equipment available on the jobsite could have been used to stabilize the vertical metal wall until the employee was not exposed to the struck-by hazard. When the metal wall fell on the employee, it caused retroperitoneal hemorrhage, fractures to the left pelvic bone and other significant traumas. The employee was killed, and the cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma due to crush injury.

Keywords: FRACTURE, STRUCK BY, FALLING OBJECT, RAILROAD

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	306869033			Fatality	Other	Construction laborers

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