Inspection Detail

Inspection: 312429640 - Johnson And Turner Painting Co.

Inspection Information - Office: Van Nuys District Office

Investigation Summary

On September 30, 2008, Employee #1, a painter, was assigned to paint the wall along an escalator and its top platform in a building that was under construction. Although the interior of the building was nearing completion, some construction was still occurring. Before beginning painting, Employee #1 planned to "cut-in" the wall with primer. He gathered his paint brush, and poured the paint from its five-gallon container into a two-gallon container. In addition, a 15-foot extension ladder was leaning up against the wall he was to paint; however, this ladder did not belong to the employer. Employee #1 then took the container of paint and his brush and proceeded to climb the ladder. He reached the approximate 12 feet point on the wall and then dipped his paint brush into the paint can. The bottom of the ladder began to slide away from the wall. Employee #1 could not descend the ladder quickly enough, so he held onto the ladder as it fell. He was taken to Kaiser Hospital in Woodland hills, where he was hospitalized and treated for broken left and right feet and a fractured right hand. Treatment included three surgeries where rods, screws, and plates were inserted into Employee #1's left ankle and right heel. He was later transferred to Kaiser Hospital in Bellflower. The accident investigation revealed that the ladder was not tied-off, blocked, or otherwise secured to prevent Employee #1 from falling. As a result, a serious violation was issued.

Keywords: FRACTURE, LADDER, UNSTABLE SURFACE, FALL, PAINTER, FOOT