Inspection Detail

Inspection: 313641474 - Sa Recycling

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 10:30 a.m. on August 25, 2010, Employee #1, a shear crane operator at a recycling plant, was removing scrap metal from a trash pile with the crane. He grabbed and lifted a pressurized compress gas cylinder with the crane's shear and attempted to move it from the trash pile. The force of the shear placed on the pressurized cylinder increased the pressure within the cylinder to a point that the pressurized gas cylinder exploded. The top of gas cylinder propelled into the direction of the cab of the crane, hitting the cab's metal cage, and driving the metal cage and plexiglass glass window into employee. Coworkers working in the immediate area responded to the accident and notified the company's management. Company's management called for emergency assistance, and the local fire department responded. The fire fighters pulled the employee out of the crane's cab and transported him to the local hospital. Employee #1 sustained deep lacerations to his face, the back of his skull, and his right leg. He also punctured his right lung and fractured his right arm. He sustained multiple fractures to his left leg, and it was later amputated. Employee #1 was hospitalized.

Keywords: FRACTURE, AMPUTATED, LACERATION, SKULL, STRUCK BY, ARM, CRANE OPERATOR, FACE, CRANE, LEG