Inspection Detail

Inspection: 317144137 - Labor Ready Southwest Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Santa Ana District Office

Investigation Summary

On November 7, 2013, Employee #1 and a crew were working inside a 53-foot trailer. They were unloading custom window and door panels from the trailer to a storage shed. Employee #1 cut the straps from the bundles windows/doors, which were about 3 ft by 8 ft in size. Each bundle contained four windows/doors at approximate weight of 175 pounds each. Two straps at the top and one at the bottom secured the bundles. Employee #1 was instructed to cut the bottom strap first, hold the bundle of four windows/doors on the top and then cut the top strap. The individual windows/doors would then be carried off of the trailer by two coworkers, as Employee #1 held the remaining windows/doors upright. The employer trained Employee #1 on this procedure, and observed him performing this task correctly. As Employee #1 cut the bottom strap first, the top strap either broke, or the straps were cut in the incorrect order, causing the bundle of windows/doors to fall on him. Employee #1 sustained bilateral pelvic fractures from a crush injury when the four window/door panels struck and fell on him. Employee #1 was transported to a medical center, where he underwent surgical procedures and received postoperative care and was then hospitalized.

Keywords: FRACTURE, UNSECURED, CRUSHED, PELVIS, STRUCK BY, TRAILER, FALLING OBJECT, DOOR, UNSTABLE POSITION