Inspection Detail

Inspection: 316212430 - Riverside County Flood Control & Water Con Distric

Inspection Information - Office: San Bernardino District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 9:30 a.m. on May 06, 2013, Employee #1, a county engineering technician, sustained a serious (ankle fracture) injury while inspecting a trench. According to Employee #1, he was performing an inspection of a newly dug and shored manhole trench to verify the formwork met the limits and specifications of the Contract before concrete was poured. The trench had two sets speed shores with two upright bars on each side (i.e., northern & southern sides) extending above the re-enforcing steel plates. It was raining at that the time. He had a camera in his right hand, and his right foot was on the SE upright bar of the speed shore. He leaned over to shoot a photograph at which time the upright slipped downwards and causing him to fall along with the speed shore into the trench resulting in serious fracture injuries of his right lower leg and ankle. Initially Employee #1 thought that he had sprained his ankle, stood up and walked out of the trench by himself without any assistance. He went to his truck and drove himself home. Upon arrival at home, he felt severe pains in his lower leg and ankle. Employee #1 was driven by his wife to Kaiser Hospital, Riverside, CA, where he was treated and released within a couple of hours. Surgery was scheduled and performed on May 21, 2013. Employee #1 was hospitalized for more than 24 hours.

Keywords: FRACTURE, TRENCH, FALL, ANKLE