Inspection Detail

Inspection: 312663180 - Laborers Pacific Southwest Regional Organizing

Inspection Information - Office: Monrovia District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 4:00 p.m. on December 29, 2009, Employee #1 and Employee #2, both labor relations representatives, were loading desks and attempting to tie them down in a truck. Both men were working together to move these desks to another office in Bakersfield. Their employer was part of an international labor union, Labor International, called Laborers Southwest Regional Organizing Coalition. Employee #1 had four years of experience as a labor organizer, and his normal duties are talking to contractors and laborers in agriculture and in construction. While loading the desks and trying to tie them down, he tripped on a desk, fell off the tailgate of the truck, hit the pavement, and fractured his right wrist. The height of the truck's tailgate was estimated to be about 30 in. to the pavement. Employee #1 suffered a compound fracture, which required surgery and a hospital stay of four days. Both employees were provided safety training and orientation. They emphasized that since they were union organizers, they actively participated in many training activities with the labor force on a weekly basis.

Keywords: DELIVERY WORK, FRACTURE, TRIPPED, TRUCK, FALL, WRIST