Inspection Detail

Inspection: 315351429 - Power Plant Landscaping Services, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Fort Lauderdale Area Office

Investigation Summary

On Friday, March 4, 2011, an employee was working as a laborer. He was employed by Power Plant Landscaping Services, Inc. This company performed landscaping work for residents living in a private gated community called "Lost Tree Village," which was in the city of North Palm Beach, Florida. The employee was sitting at the rear edge of a vehicle, an insulated truck or van, which was moving from one residence to another as the workers performed landscaping work. The employee died after he fell from the back of the van while trying to reach his cellular telephone, which he had dropped while the vehicle was moving forward. A coworker, who was the primary witness, was sitting in the back of the van. The coworker verified during an interview that the employee jumped off the moving vehicle trying to pick up his cellular telephone. He hit the pavement with his face, and he was killed. Two metal handles on opposite sides at the rear of the truck were used by the employee and the coworker to keep from falling from the vehicle.

Keywords: HEAD, HIGHWAY, STRUCK AGAINST, FALL, FACE, LOST BALANCE, MOTOR VEHICLE