Inspection Detail

Inspection: 314824152 - County Sanitation Company Inc. # 375514

Inspection Information - Office: Van Nuys District Office

Inspection Nr: 314824152

Report ID: 0950643

Date Opened: 04/22/2011

Site Address:
County Sanitation Company Inc. # 375514
3151 Padaro Lane
Carpinteria, CA 93013

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 576, Summerland, CA 93067

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:1623

NAICS: 237110/Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Safety

Close Conference: 09/20/2011

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 06/12/2013

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	102638715
Accident	102638723

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	2			2		4
Current Violations	1			3		4
Initial Penalty	$16,650	$0	$0	$670	$0	$17,320
Current Penalty	$3,035	$0	$0	$3,335	$0	$6,370
FTA Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Violation Items
#	Citation ID	Citaton Type	Standard Cited	Issuance Date	Abatement Due Date	Current Penalty	Initial Penalty	FTA Penalty	Contest	Latest Event
1.	01001	Other	1509 C	10/11/2011	10/28/2011	$0	$335	$0	10/26/2011	J - ALJ Decision
2.	01002	Other	1512 B	10/11/2011	10/28/2011	$335	$335	$0	10/26/2011	J - ALJ Decision
3.	02001	Serious	1541 K01	10/11/2011	10/28/2011	$3,035	$4,050	$0	10/26/2011	J - ALJ Decision
4.	03001	Other	15410001 A01	10/11/2011	10/28/2011	$3,000	$12,600	$0	10/26/2011	J - ALJ Decision

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 202470290

Event: 04/22/2011

Employee Is Injured in Trench Collapse

At approximately 8:51 a.m. on April 22, 2011, a backhoe operator was working with another employee at an excavation site in Carpinteria, CA. Employee #1 had been working as a backhoe operator for this employer for one year and 8 months. The trench that the employees were working in was approximately 33 inches wide and 7 feet deep, and was not shored or protected in any way. The employees were laying pipe in the excavation and then backfill the excavation. The other employee left the construction site to get more diesel for the backhoe. Employee #1 then entered the unshored trench. One side of the excavation caved in and buried the employee up to his head. Painters near the excavation heard the employee yell and ran over along with masons and framers to dig the employee out of the collapsed trench. Emergency services was called, and fire and ambulance services responded to the site. Employee #1 was dug out of the trench, but refused medical treatment and was taken home. A few hours later, Employee #1's legs went numb, and he called emergency services and was taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Employee #1 was diagnosed with fractures to two vertebrae, his pelvis, and four ribs. Employee #1 was hospitalized for four days. The investigation concluded that the employer, County Sanitation Company Inc., did not have a competent person on site and did not have an employee in an excavation protected from cave-ins.

Keywords: FRACTURE, TRENCH BOX, COLLAPSE, SPINE, TRENCH, PELVIS, RIB, CAVE-IN, BACKHOE

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	314824152			Hospitalized injury	Fracture	Construction laborers

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