Inspection Detail

Inspection: 309060887 - Popeye'S

Inspection Information - Office: Indiana Department Of Labor

Investigation Summary

On September 14, 2005, Employee #1 placed his pickup truck below the area he was going to access to block traffic from hitting the ladder he was going to use. He then placed the bottom of a 24-foot extension ladder against the rear tire of his truck and the top of the ladder against the east side of the building's mansard roof. The employee mounted the ladder and climbed to the sign that was mounted 13 ft and 6 in. above the blacktop parking lot at the east side of the building. The sign was mounted to the roof with a framework of steel angle iron. Employee #1 transferred from the ladder to the open north side of the sign framework. He had no personal fall protection on at the time he accessed the sign framework. He then worked his way to the electrical box at the center of the sign to check if there was a disconnect switch available at the box. After checking the electrical box he moved back to the open north side of the framework where the ladder was located. As he attempted to get back on the ladder, he apparently lost his balance and fell, landing on the blacktop behind his pickup truck. The ladder was also knocked down as he fell. The employee received severe injuries from the fall. There were no witnesses to his fall but a contract electrician who was working on outside lighting on the building was getting tools from his truck in the parking lot heard the noise from the ladder falling and came to his aid. Paramedics were called and transported him to the hospital were he was pronounced dead.

Keywords: ELECTRICAL, LADDER, TRUCK, FALL