Inspection Detail

Inspection: 309162949 - A Core Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Utah Division Of Occupational Safety And Health

Investigation Summary

At approximately 10:55 a.m. on July 28, 2005, Employee #1, of A Core Inc., was using a scissors lift in order to access a concrete window that needed to be cut for enlargement. The Foreman for A Core Inc. was working by himself at a vertical height of approximately 16 ft above the surface below (It is important to note that the employee that had been originally assigned this task was not available, so the Foreman filled in to expedite the work that had been subcontracted to his employer's company). For some reason Employee #1 fell from the lift and hit his hand on asphalt. The direct cause of the accident was a result of the wheel that was proximal to the leading edge of the concrete walkway dropped off the curb, which allowed the wheel to drop approximately 3 in. The scissors lift had either been raised while being moved by the operator along the walkway, which resulted in the lift having a high center of gravity. This would have created conditions that were conducive to the lift tipping over, when the leading edge wheel dropped the 3 in. vertical distance created by the rise over run geometric relation between the horizontal planes of the asphalt and the cement walkway. The inspector noted that the asphalt pavement and cement walkway were flush for about 6 ft however, at approximately 150 in. the vertical height of the cement curb rose 3 in. above the surface plane of the asphalt. As a point of reference, when Employee #1 was facing the building while moving from left to right, then the observed increase in vertical distance from the cement walk to the asphalt would be on his right. The asphalt was sloped downward in order to facilitate storm water drainage. According to an eye witness, the Employee #1 was at the control panel, which was the left side of the platform when the accident ocurred, and the wheel that dropped from the right leading edge of the curb was the right side of the lift. Witnesses that observed the accident scene immediately after the accident indicated that it appeared as though Employee #1 may have held on to the lift railing as it fell back to the ground. Upon impact, the employee struck the back of his head on the pavement, which suggest that he had been facing away from the direction of the fall. He died.

Keywords: HEAD, FALL, AERIAL LIFT, ASPHALT