Inspection Detail

Inspection: 316671643 - Flatiron West Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Van Nuys District Office

Investigation Summary

On September 16, 2013, Employee #1, a journeyman carpenter, and Coworker #1, both employed by Flatiron West, Inc., were working on a below grade canal wall. They were engaged in forming work, hanging pilaster panels. Employee #1 was standing on an epoxy-coated dowel while anchored to a similar open-ended dowel above him. As Coworker #1 passed him a sledgehammer, Employee #1 lost his footing. Employee #1's restraint slid off the anchor, and he fell to the concrete surface 5 to 6 feet below. Emergency services were called, and Employee #1 was transported to the hospital, where he was admitted and treated for a fractured leg. The employer reported this injury to Cal/OSHA on September 17, 2013. The subsequent investigation determined that the employer was a general engineering contractor involved in highway, street, and bridge construction. Employee #1 was directly employed by the employer. The causal factor in this event was that the anchor point used by Employee #1 was not secure. It had an open end from which a worker's fall restraint device could slide off.

Keywords: ANCHOR, FRACTURE, INSTALLING, PANEL, UNSECURED, CARPENTER, CONSTRUCTION, FALL, FALL PROTECTION, LEG