Inspection Detail

Inspection: 314865825 - Hava Corp Dba Arc

Inspection Information - Office: Los Angeles District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 8:30 a.m. on September 10, 2013, Employee #1 and Coworker #1, of Hava Corp dba A R C Remodelers, were working on the demolition of a multi-family residential building. Their assignment was to demolish an old, leaning cinder block wall that was approximately 7 feet high by 50 feet long. Coworker #1 was experienced in this type of work and had been demolishing walls for more than 29 years. Coworker #1 was operating a skid-steer tractor with a hydraulic breaker attachment. He removed approximately 3 feet of cinder block from the top of the wall to confirm the presence of reinforcing steel and reduce the height of the wall. He observed that there was both vertical and horizontal rebar in the wall and that the wall was stable. Coworker #1 removed the soil that was exposed after removing the top of the wall. He then removed vertical slot sections of the wall approximately 6 inches wide to obtain an approximately 4-foot section of wall, which he then would pull over with the skid-steer. During these procedures Coworker #1 would continually watch the wall for any indication of instability and pull on the wall with the skid-steer to ensure it would not tip over. He saw no indication of any structural problems. When the wall had been reduced to approximately 4 feet from the ground, it contained a horizontal steel reinforcing bar that needed to be cut before Coworker #1 could pull the wall down and enable the cutting of the vertical reinforcing steel bars. Employee #1 was cutting these horizontal steel reinforcing bars with a hand- held portable cut-off saw. The first 4-foot section of wall had been removed following this procedure without a problem. Coworker #1 prepared another 4-foot section of wall in the same way. Employee #1 cut the top horizontal rebar, and then the next horizontal rebar below, and began to position himself to cut the next rebar below. The next 4-foot wide section of wall suddenly toppled and fell on him. Emergency services were called, and the Los Angeles City Fire Department responded. Employee #1 was transported to LAC+USC Medical Center, where he was admitted and treated for a fractured pelvis and internal injuries. The Los Angeles City Fire Department reported this incident to Cal/OSHA at approximately 8:45 a.m. on September 10, 2013. The employer reported the incident to Cal/OSHA at 7:55 a.m. on September 11, 2013, after the employer learned that Employee #1 would be hospitalized for more than 24 hours. The Cal/OSHA investigator arrived at the work site at approximately 9:50 a.m. on September 19, 2013 and began the investigation. The investigation determined that the vertical steel reinforcing bars in the wall were rusted away at the base and did not hold the wall section up the way they had in the first section. The employer did not block or brace the next wall section before allowing Employee #1 to work adjacent to the wall, and he was injured when the wall fell over onto him. At the time of this report, Cal/OSHA planned to issue a serious citation T8 CCR 1735(d)(4). Demolishing Buildings. (4) During demolition, continuing inspections shall be made as the work progresses to detect hazards resulting from weakened or deteriorated floors or walls, or loosened material. Employees shall not be permitted to work where such hazards exist until they are corrected by shoring, bracing, or other effective means.

Keywords: FRACTURE, WALL, DEMOLITION, REBAR, COLLAPSE, CONSTRUCTION, SAW, PELVIS, TRACTOR, FALLING OBJECT