Inspection Detail

Inspection: 311958862 - Gregory Homes

Inspection Information - Office: Houston South Area Office

Investigation Summary

On July 12, 2008, Employee #1 was installing exterior wall sheathing on a single family residence under construction, while standing on the third level of a job-made, single-pole scaffold. The scaffold plank on which he stood was #3 construction grade lumber, measuring 2 in. by 12 in. by 12 ft. The plank was supported by poles constructed of three 2-in. by 4-in. boards abutted and nailed together without splice plates. The plank had three knots on its face side. When Employee #1 stood at the center of the span, the plank broke, fracturing in a linear pattern between the three knots. Employee #1 was killed when he fell approximately 27.5 feet to the ground. The cause of death was blunt force injuries to the head and chest.

Keywords: HEAD, EQUIPMENT FAILURE, PLANK, SCAFFOLDING, CHEST, CONSTRUCTION, FALL, SCAFFOLD