Inspection Detail

Inspection: 310606181 - Parkhouse Tire Service Inc - Store #204

Inspection Information - Office: San Bernardino District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 5:03 p.m. on April 6, 2009, Employee #1 was working at a tire service company. Employee #1 was at the site performing an on-the-vehicle wheel balance of the front passenger tire of a semi-truck. This was a normal operation engaged in by the employee, who had five years of experience in this position and ten years total with the employer. Employee #1 was utilizing a Bee Line Model Number 2600 Heavy Duty Wheel Spinner and Model Number 3088 Strobe Unit and Pick-up. The Wheel Spinner had a 35-in. high by 21.5-in. wide plexiglass shield attached to the handle at approximately 32-in. above the floor. Employees would position their head and torso behind the shield to protect themselves from weights if they were thrown from the wheel during spinning. Employee #1 had raised the front end of the truck with a floor jack, completed the initial spin-up, and attached an 8-ounce weight on the inside of the wheel rim. Employee #1 then spun the wheel back up to continue the evaluation. As the wheel was spinning, Employee #1 leaned to the right of the shield, exposing his face. At this time, the weight detached from the wheel and flew in the direction of Employee #1, striking the right edge of the shield and penetrating Employee #1's left eye. Employee #1 was transported to the hospital and admitted for treatment. At approximately 4:45 p.m. on April 13, 2009, Employee #1 was removed from life support and died.

Keywords: EYE, WHEEL, FRACTURE, ROTATING PARTS, STRUCK BY, FLYING OBJECT, JACK