Inspection Detail

Inspection: 3306909 - D. L. Ball Construction Company, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Va-E-Manassas (Regional Office)- Safety 0355114

Investigation Summary

EMPLOYEE #1, ORIGINALLY DOING CARPENTRY FRAMING WORK ON THE ROOF, WAS CALLED DOWN TO THE THIRD FLOOR DECK BY ANOTHER EMPLOYEE TO EMPLACE 2 BY 4 WEDGES SO THAT A LOAD OF 4 FOOT BY 8 FOOT PLYWOOD COULD BE LANDED ON THE DECK. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS STANDING ON THE THIRD FLOOR DECK WHEN THE OTHER EMPLOYEE, USING A HIGHLANDER FORKLIFT, DROPPED A LOAD OF HALF INCH PLYWOOD APPROXIMATELY TWO FOOT THICK ONTO THE THIRD FLOOR DECK. EMPLOYEE #1 FELT THE DECK SHAKE. BEFORE HE COULD REACT BY MOVING BACK INSIDE THE BUILDING, THE DECK SNAPPED AWAY FROM THE BAND OF THE BUILDING AND DROPPED APPROXIMATELY EIGHT AND A HALF FEET TO THE DECK BELOW. EMPLOYEE #1 FELL STRAIGHT DOWN TO THE SECOND FLOOR DECK, LANDING ON HIS FEET AND QUICKLY JUMPING BACK INTO THE BUILDING AT THE SECOND FLOOR LEVEL. WHILE FALLING, HE SUFFERED A PUNCTURE WOUND IN HIS UPPER LEFT ARM FROM A PROTRUDING NAIL. THE FORKLIFT OPERATOR WAS NOT A REGULAR EQUIPMENT OPERATOR. THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A LACK OF TRAINING ON THE PART OF THE FORKLIFT OPERATOR AND A MISJUDGEMENT OF THE DEGREE OF HAZARD.

Keywords: NAIL, CONSTRUCTION, FALL, FALL PROTECTION, ARM, UNTRAINED, PUNCTURE