Inspection Detail

Inspection: 315533091 - W M Lyles Co

Inspection Information - Office: Santa Ana District Office

Investigation Summary

On April 11, 2013, Employee #1, a journeyman carpenter with W M Lyles Company, and a coworker were installing concrete wailers on the falsework that had been erected in preparation for the next schedule pour of the last interior wall. Both employees were using fall protection that incorporated two locking snap hooks for positioning. They were anchored to the horizontal framing members of the falsework. Employee #1 disconnected both of his snap hooks from the anchor points and was descending the wall to break for lunch when he lost his balance. Employee #1 fell approximately nine feet to the concrete floor inside a four-sided concrete structure that had been erected on grade. The concrete structure had a large wall opening on one wall and was completely open to the sky, and was not considered to be a confined space by the employer. The emergency responder firefighters defined it as a confined space, however. The entire building was divided into three 33 ft long by 20 ft wide sections and was comprised of concrete. The walls were 12 ft high. Employee #1 was working in one of the two sections of the building where there were no wall openings and access was by means of a ladder. The fire department rescue required hoisting Employee #1 on a basket litter with a crane, both of which were readily available at the job site. Employee #1 was transported to the hospital and suffered a fractured left arm and left femur.

Keywords: FRACTURE, CONFINED SPACE, CARPENTER, LADDER, CONSTRUCTION, FALL, FALL PROTECTION, ARM, CRANE, LEG