Inspection Detail

Inspection: 315250019 - Burkshire Construction Company

Inspection Information - Office: Cleveland Area Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 7:53 a.m. on January 17, 2011, Employee #1 was operating a JLG 800A Articulating Boom Lift in a congested and oddly configured area. The boom and bucket needed to be positioned between two concrete beams, located approximately 8-9 feet apart; meanwhile, the main boom had to be kept off of another concrete beam that was running horizontally. Employee #1 and another employee, a laborer performing the cutting, were tasked to cut rebar from the concrete beams that were going to be demolished as part of a construction site. Employee #1 and the other employee had cut the outside rebar on the top column and were repositioning to cut the inside rebar of the top column. Both employees were wearing hard hats, safety glasses, and their personal fall protection. There were no eyewitnesses to the accident. At the time of the event, the other employee was in the basket but was crouched down due to the tight fit between the two beams, and he was wearing welding glasses. Consequently, he did not see the accident, but he heard the lift motor rev up. When he looked up, Employee #1 was pinned between the safety railing of the lift and a concrete beam. The space was tight and awkward, which may have contributed to the accident. The inspection of the aerial lift showed that it was in proper working order. Employee #1 and the other employee were working outside in the early daylight hours, and the temperature was approximately 12 degrees Fahrenheit. Employee #1 died from blunt impact to the head.

Keywords: HEAD, REBAR, CONCRETE BEAM, CONSTRUCTION, CAUGHT BETWEEN, AERIAL LIFT