Inspection Detail

Inspection: 312315153 - Port Of Los Angeles Harbor Dept

Inspection Information - Office: High Hazard Unit - South

Investigation Summary

At 9:30 a.m. on October 21, 2009, Employee #1, a truck crane rigger employed by the Port Authority, was working at a construction site at the Port of Los Angelis, where an abandoned dock and storage area were being demolished. He and his immediate supervisor, the crane operator, were on the roof of the crane (Model Number "HC788"), "slushing" the crane cables to lubricate them. They descended from the roof of the crane, where the work had been performed, using the permanent access ladder. Employee #1 stepped off the ladder and missed a hand hold, before he got to the bottom. He fell a distance of approximately 4 feet to 6 feet and struck his head and back on a log lying on the ground. Employee #1 sustained back injuries, including fractured vertebrae, and was hospitalized for approximately one week at the UCLA Medical Center. Investigators determined that the accident was caused by Employee #1 missing a hand hold and slipping. They did not identify safety regulation violations.

Keywords: FRACTURE, LADDER, FIXED LADDER, BACK, FALL, VERTEBRA, CRANE