Inspection Detail

Inspection: 310225982 - A R Popple Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Wilkes Barre Area Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 4:00 p.m. on December 10, 2006, Employee #1, a foreman, was working in a building under demolition. An excavator, on a debris mound inside the building, was pulling on the last sections of the second and third floors, when the roof and floors above the excavator fell into the building, pushing the wall out. The excavator operator settled the falling debris and was not injured. Witness statements indicate that Employee #1 was either walking or running through the path of the falling wall. Employee #1 was trapped under the debris for several minutes until rescued by emergency personnel. Employee #1 was hospitalized and treated for his injuries, but later died as a result of his injuries. Witnesses on the scene at the time of the accident were unsure why Employee #1 was in the path of the falling wall. One witness stated that he thought Employee #1 was moving forward to be sure a new employee near the front of the building would not be in the path of falling debris. Employee #1 was originally stationed at the rear of the building. The new employee was struck by some falling bricks and debris during the wall collapse.

Keywords: WALL, DEMOLITION, COLLAPSE, CONSTRUCTION, FALL, STRUCK BY, FALLING OBJECT