Inspection Detail

Inspection: 307341230 - San Leandro Towing

Inspection Information - Office: Oakland District Office

Investigation Summary

On January 26, 2006, Employee #1 was preparing a towing operation by stretching a cable, 37 ft across a parking lot, from the winch of a tow truck to a disabled telephone company utility truck. The employee set 8-in. tall chocks behind the wheels of the disabled truck to prevent its movement. He then crawled beneath the right rear axle of the truck to release its brakes. At this time, a coworker driving a van ran into the cable and snagged it, causing the cable to move the disabled truck over the chocks. Employee #1 was crushed between the truck and the pavement he was laying on and was hospitalized. The parking lot was used as a vehicle thoroughfare.

Keywords: CHOCK, VEHICLE IN GEAR, BRAKE, WIRE ROPE, CRUSHED, TRUCK, TOW TRUCK, TOWED EQUIPMENT