Inspection Detail

Inspection: 315776179 - Joseph J. Albanese, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Foster City District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 5:30 p.m. on June 24, 2013, Employee #1, employed by a construction company, was working at the employer's yard. According to the subsequent investigation report, Employee #1, a heavy equipment mechanic, Coworker #1, also a heavy equipment mechanic, and Coworker #2, a crane operator, had been assigned to re-spool the steel cable of a 15-ton crane, a National Crane Company Series 500C Boom Truck with 180-foot cable, .625-inch in diameter. Employee #1 was assigned as the Lead and was overseeing the re-spooling. He and Coworker #1 were working at the boom level, and Coworker #2 was operating the controls based on Employee #1's direction. Employee #1 was standing on a ledge to the right side of the boom, approximately 8 feet 4 inches above the ground. Employee #1 and Coworker #1 both were working at the boom level without fall protection. Coworker #1 said he safely held onto a fixed part of the crane to prevent himself from falling. Employee #1 said there was no handhold where he was standing, so he securely grasped the top of the boom cover, a fixed structure, by placing the fingers of his left hand inside the holes as he guided the steel cable with his right hand, on which he wore a wire glove. According to the employer's Safety Director, Employee #1, while spooling the first layer, needed to hold the cable and tap it with a hammer to ensure the cable was wrapped tight and close together. The three employees were almost finished re-spooling the cable, and Coworker #1 was already on the ground, when Employee #1, still standing at the boom level, directed Coworker #2 to retract the boom, not realizing that his left hand fingers were still inside the holes of the boom cover. Employee #1's index finger was pinched between the boom cover and the boom's anti-friction pads, resulting in an amputation. Employee #1 was transported to the hospital, where he was admitted and treated for amputation of the left hand index finger. Following its investigation, Cal/OSHA issued two Serious citations, alleging violations of: Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations (T8 CCR), section 3210 (b), for Employer's failure to protect its employee(s) from exposure to fall of approximately 8 feet 4 inches, while working on the Series 500 C boom truck cable, by means of fall protection, including but not limited to: handholds; fall arrest systems; and/or guardrails; and T8 CCR, section 3314 (g), for Employer's failure to provide and require the use of extension tools (e.g., extended swabs, brushes, scrapers) or other methods or means to protect its employees from injury while re-spooling the cable of the Series 500 C Boom Truck; employee #1 was using his hand to guide the cable during re-spooling. Cal/OSHA also issued two General citations for Employer's failure to: complete and/or document a pre-task report prior to assigning its employees to re-spool the Series 500 C Boom Truck's cable, as specified in its written Injury and Illness Prevention Program, a violation of T8 CCR, section 3203 (a); and include in its Hazardous Energy Control Procedures the following, including but not limited to: scope; purpose; authorization; rules; techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy; the means to enforce compliance; and separate procedural steps for the safe lockout/tagout of each machinery or equipment, as required, a violation of T8 CCR, section 3314 (g).

Keywords: AMPUTATED, UNSECURED, FINGER, MACHINIST, MECHANIC, CONSTRUCTION, CAUGHT BETWEEN, FALL PROTECTION, BOOM SUPPORT CABLE, CRANE