Inspection Detail

Inspection: 315318378 - In-Home Supportive Services

Inspection Information - Office: Oakland District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 7:15 p.m. on June 12, 2012, Employee #1, a domestic household service provider, was attempting to repair an adjustable mechanical bed. The bed, which was at least 10 years old, had a control panel that allowed the user to automatically raise and lower the mattress sections or the entire mattress. Due to issues dealing with a squeaky noise and raising difficulty, the client wanted Employee #1 and the client's daughter to fix the bed issues. To be helpful, both Employee #1 and the daughter worked on the bed. They believed that to fix the bed issues they needed to remove a pin, which was horizontally inserted in a middle post underneath the bed mattress, and replace the pin with a different pin. After Employee #1 removed the pin by hitting the pin with a hammer, the bed collapsed since the post was supporting the bed from collapsing. Employee #1's head and neck were trapped between metal bars that closed when the bed collapsed. The daughter, who left the bedroom shortly before the bed collapsed, heard a loud noise from an adjacent room to the bedroom and Employee #1 calling for help. The daughter returned to the bedroom and observed Employee #1 trapped so she attempted to lift the bed to free her; however, the daughter was unsuccessful. The daughter summoned emergency medical personnel. The fire department responded and performed emergency aid on Employee #1; however, they were unable to save her life.

Keywords: CAUGHT BY, MACHINE--MISC