Inspection Detail

Inspection: 310486303 - Henkels & Mccoy

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Investigation Summary

At 2:30 p.m. on January, 11, 2007, Employee #1 was using a job-built, hand-held hammer to drive an electrical ground rod into the earth. The 16 lb hammer consisted of a 41 in. long by 1 in. in diameter steel pipe welded to an 8 in. long by 3 in. in diameter solid steel plug. An 8 ft long by 5/8 in. in diameter copper-clad steel ground rod was inserted into the hammer handle and driven into the ground with a slam-hammer motion, with the employee's hands grasping the hammer handle. Employee #1 did not notice that the ground rod had come out of the hammer handle and he continued to drive the rod into the ground with a full force motion. His gloved hands struck against the ground rod resulting in a compound fracture of his right thumb, a complete puncture of his left hand, and multiple lacerations to both hands. Employee #1 was transported to Verdugo Hills Hospital and later admitted to Huntington Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Keywords: FRACTURE, UNSECURED, STRUCK AGAINST, CONSTRUCTION, LACERATION, MANUAL MAT HANDLING, HAND TOOL, HAND