Inspection Detail

Inspection: 314572652 - Certified Coating Co

Inspection Information - Office: Sacramento District Office

Investigation Summary

On August 25, 2011, Employee #1 was working on a bridge construction project. Employee #1 was working from a scaffold erected on a temporary deck underneath the bridge. Employee #1 was standing on a scaffold railing approximately 18 feet below the lower level and he was repositioning a scaffold plank in order to gain access to the area of the bridge that needed repainting. Employee #1 had already repositioned the other (north) end of the plank to the lower level, and was lowering the other end of the scaffold plank to create a new working level. A large vehicle drove over the bridge and caused a tremor and Employee #1 lost his grip on the scaffold and fell to the lower level. Employee #1 was wearing an approved full body harness and two lanyards and hooking devices at the time of injury but did not attach either of the lanyards to an anchor point because he thought he had a good handhold. Coworkers found Employee #1 lying at the base of the scaffold wearing his respirator and body harness. Emergency services were called, and Employee #1 was transported via helicopter to an area hospital where he was admitted for treatment of a head injury, an acute sternum fracture, a vertebra fracture and a fractured right elbow. Employee #1 was admitted for over a week, and was then transferred for further treatment to a hospital near his residence.

Keywords: CHEST, FRACTURE, HEAD, FALL, FALL PROTECTION, BRIDGE, ELBOW, SCAFFOLD