Inspection Detail

Inspection: 314823352 - L.A.City,Gen.Svcs.,Fleet Services,Area 1

Inspection Information - Office: Van Nuys District Office

Investigation Summary

On November 16, 2010, Employee #1 was using a six-foot stepladder to replace a hose on the mechanical arm of the cart motor on Automated Refuse Truck, Number 36518. The cart motor was mounted on the top of the extended arm, which brought the cart motor down to an approximate height of 8ft. Employee #1 had already taken off the old hose and had connected the new hose on the rear side of the cart motor. After descending the ladder, he moved the ladder over to the front side of the arm. He climbed on the ladder to attach the hose to the cart motor and tighten the connection. Employee #1 then took one step down the ladder with his left foot, and his foot slipped off the step. His right foot was still on the third step when his left foot struck the floor, overextending his body. He had a shooting and tingling feeling down both legs, but did not fall to the floor. After a few minutes, he walked slowly around and stretched his back. He then moved the ladder to the other side of the mechanical arm and finished tightening the hose. Employee #1 continued working until the end of the shift and did not mention the incident to his supervisor until the next day. His back was still feeling uncomfortable during his drive home and felt sore. The next day, he talked with his supervisor who asked him if he wanted to go see a doctor. Employee #1 said "no", but he would if the pain became worse. Even though his back felt uncomfortable, Employee #1 continued working for the next five days because he was able to still perform his job. Ten days later, he traveled into work and felt a burning sensation in his legs and extreme discomfort in his back. He went to the acting supervisor and told him he could not finish his shift and needed to see a doctor. The supervisor told him to go to a medical group practice office. Employee #1 drove himself there. At the medical office, he was seen by a medical assistant and given a shot and pain medication. He was then told to come back three days later. When he returned on November 29, 2010, a doctor saw Employee #1 and immediately admitted him for a magnetic resonance imaging diagnostic procedure. After the test procedure, Employee #1 recalled traveling back to his place of work and filling out papers. The next day, he received a call from the doctor who told him to go see a spinal surgeon. Employee #1 went to an orthopedic center on the same day, and the spinal surgeon did an evaluation and said he needed emergency surgery on his back. Later that evening on the following day, he was in a lot of pain, so he called the doctor and the doctor told him to go to the emergency room of a hospital. He arrived and was admitted to the hospital. At approximately 3 p.m. on December 2, 2010, Employee #1 had surgery on his back for a massive rupture right lumbar forth-fifth vertebra disc herniation and was then hospitalized for one day.

Keywords: INSTALLING, SPINE, STEPLADDER, SLIP, HOSE, BACK, FALL, LOST BALANCE