Inspection Detail

Inspection: 314864646 - Gene L Bonas Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Los Angeles District Office

Investigation Summary

At 10:00 a.m. on March 8, 2013, Employee #1 and Coworker #1, painters employed by a painting contractor, were working in the service area of an auto dealership, preparing the west wall for repainting. Employee #1 was working from an aluminum extension ladder at the south end of the west wall and scraping paint from the wall while Coworker #1 held the ladder steady. Employee #1 climbed to the seventh step of the ladder, approximately 80 inches from the floor. Coworker #1 received a telephone call from Coworker #2 requesting that he open the alley vehicle door. Coworker #1 asked Employee #1 if he needed to come down from the ladder while Coworker #1 moved away to open the door. Employee #1 said the ladder was steady and he would continue working. Coworker #1 moved away from his position holding the ladder steady and opened the alley door to allow Coworker #2 to drive into the building. Coworker #1 then closed the door and began to walk back to Employee #1's location. Before Coworker #1 reached the ladder, the ladder slipped, and Employee #1 fell to the floor. Emergency personnel were called, and the Santa Monica Fire Department responded and transported Employee #1 to UCLA Westwood Medical Center. Employee #1 was treated in the emergency room for a laceration to his forehead and a dislocated shoulder. He was released from the emergency room at 7:00 p.m. on March 8, 2013. Because Employee #1 did not sustain a serious injury, his employer did not have an obligation to notify Cal/OSHA. However, the Santa Monica Fire Department reported this event to Cal/OSHA at 10:55 a.m. on March 8, 2013. At 10:10 a.m. on March 13, 2013, Cal/OSHA's Los Angeles Division began an investigation at the site. Its investigation determined that the area where the ladder legs were placed and where the fall occurred was an automotive dealership vehicle service area that had a build-up of oil and dirt on the floor. The ladder base safety feet were in serviceable condition, but the slippery floor surface would require that other means be employed to ensure ladder stability. While the ladder was being held by Coworker #1, the ladder was secure. When Coworker #1 stopped holding the ladder, it became unstable and ultimately slipped out from under Employee #1. The Division planned to issue an accident related serious citation, a general violation for T8 CCR 3276(e)(7) with lack of employer knowledge and a non-serious injury.

Keywords: SHOULDER, FOREHEAD, LADDER, CONSTRUCTION, LACERATION, FALL, FALL PROTECTION, SLIPPERY SURFACE, PAINTER, UNSTABLE POSITION