Inspection Detail

Inspection: 315777003 - Lake Merced Golf Club

Inspection Information - Office: Foster City District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 6:10 a.m. on February 26, 2014, Employee #1, a 44-year-old male Mechanic/Greens Keeper with Lake Merced Golf Club was operating a Reel Master Mower 3001 D Trim, manufactured by Toro Company, Serial Number 03201-90311. The equipment was a ride-on, sit-down reel lawn mower equipped with two front wheels, and one middle back wheel, seatbelt and roll over protection structures (ROPS). Employee #1 was operating the mower however, he was not completely seated. Employee #1's left leg was dangling behind the front left wheel of the mower; in addition, Employee #1 was not wearing the seatbelt provided. Employee #1 had just backed out of the Equipment Storage Area and had positioned the mower in the neutral when he accidentally depressed the traction pedal on the reverse; Employee #1's left leg positioned outside the mower was fractured. Employee #1 stated that the hem of his pants got stuck on the traction pedal this caused the pedal to go in reverse. Employee #1 yelled for help when his left leg was caught underneath the mower. A coworker who was nearby immediately responded to Employee #1's request to turn off the ignition key and push the mower forward. Employee #1 fell on the ground after his leg was freed from underneath the mower. The coworker stated that when he approached the mower to turn off the ignition key, Employee #1 was standing with his left leg and his right leg was inside the mower near the pedal. The coworker did not know what Employee #1 was doing at the time of the incident. The mower was equipped with an interlock switch that should have turned the engine off when Employee #1 was off the seat and the traction pedal was depressed; however, at the time of the incident, the engine was still running until the coworker turned off the ignition key. Employee #1 suffered a left leg fracture in the event and was taken to Seton Medical Center where he was hospitalized for approximately three days. The Division did not issue an incident related citation because the incident was not caused by a violation of Title 8, California Code of Regulations (T8 CCR). However, violations were found and the employer was cited accordingly. The Division issued four (4) general citations to the employer, alleging violations of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations (T8 CCR) for: failure to implement and maintain an effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program, in that safety procedures and management responsibilities specified in its IIPP were not being performed including but not limited to: monthly safety inspections; monthly Safety Committee Meetings; and Supervisor's Safety Meetings with Maintenance/Green employees every 10 days, T8 CCR 3203 (a)(3)(4); failure to inspect and maintain its Reel Master Mower 3001 D Traction Unit, Mfg. Toro Company, Serial No. 03201-90311, as recommended by the manufacturer, including but not limited to: daily inspection/maintenance of safe interlock operation and replacement of interlock switch every 2 years, T8 CCR 3328 (b); failure to develop a written procedure for complying with each requirement of Heat Illness Prevention Program for its employees, T8 CCR 3395 (f)(3); failure to ensure that its workers used the seat belt assembly provided with the installed ROPS on the ride-on sit down lawn mower Reel Master Mower 3001 D Traction Unit, Mfg. Toro Company, Serial No. 03201-90311, T8 CCR 3563 (c). The Division issued a Regulatory citation to the employer for failure to report to the Division as required, a reportable serious injury of an employee when his leg was caught underneath the mower that he was operating, T8 CCR 342 (a).

Keywords: FRACTURE, LAWN MOWER, NIP POINT, FOOT, LEG