Inspection Detail

Inspection: 314305434 - Jesus Denova Santamaria

Inspection Information - Office: Austin Area Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 4:15 p.m. on January 27, 2011, Employee #1 and Employee #2 worked for a painting sub-contractor with approximately six other employees on the job site. The site was managed by the general contracting company, NE Construction. On the day of the incident, the two employees were given instructions to apply MP1 caulk to expansion joints on the parapet walls. The employees were using 40 foot ladders to accomplish this task that had a maximum height of approximately 30 feet. The task was taking too much time by using the ladders, so the employees were hoisted up by a forklift. The two employees stood inside a three-sided wooden trash box and were lifted up to the expansion joints with MP1 caulk to fill them. The box was not secured to the forks, but had a 2 ft. by 6 ft. board attached behind the carriage of the forklift to keep it from falling off the front end of the forks. The employees were elevated approximately 30 feet high with the Sky Trak rough terrain forklift. A coworker shut the forklift off and stepped out of the vehicle and began talking to his supervisor, while the employees sealed the joints. The front of the box was open, where the employees were working. The employees were standing on the outside ends of the box opposite of each other applying caulk to each of the two expansion joints on the brick parapet wall in front of the southwest stairwell on building number 8 approximately 8 feet apart. Employee #1 finished caulking the north side (left) expansion joint and walked over to the south side (right) of the box, where the Employee #2 was working to assist him. The transfer of weight to the south side caused the box to tip off of the narrow forks and sent the employees falling to the ground. The 8 feet by 4 feet by 4 feet box fell after the employees and landed on both of them. Employee #1's injuries included a broken left foot, a dislocated left shoulder, and a laceration to the face. He was transported to University Medical Center in Brackenridge. The box landed on the upper half of Employee #2's head, causing catastrophic trauma. He immediately died. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene following several 911 calls. The OSHA Austin Area Office was notified of the incident at approximately 5:00 PM by APD, and CSHO was dispatched to the accident site.

Keywords: FRACTURE, HEAD, SHOULDER, CRUSHED, INDUSTRIAL TRUCK, DISLOCATED, FALL, FALL PROTECTION, FACE, FOOT