Inspection Detail

Inspection: 104387691 - Kells Construction Company, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Department Of Labor, Licensing, And Regulation Division Of Labor And Industry Maryland Occupational Safety And Health

Investigation Summary

At approximately 8:00 a.m. on October 25, 1984, Employees #1, #2, #3, and #4 had started erecting wooden trusses for the sanctuary roof of a new church that was under construction. They were using a crane to lift the 40 ft long and 285 lb trusses into place. Between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. they had set 29 trusses into place and thought that they had braced them more than adequately. As the morning progressed, wind velocity picked up. At approximately 11:00 a.m., while employees were working off the north and south walls of the church sanctuary and two employees were up in the trusses, a strong (40 mph) gust of wind blew through from west to east, breaking the bracing loose at the eleventh truss and causing the next 19 trusses to collapse. The collapsing trusses carried the employee at the north end of the trusses to the concrete floor. The employee at the south end of the trusses was knocked over the east cinder block sanctuary wall onto existing masonry scaffolding. The employee on the north wall was knocked inside the building and fell onto the concrete floor and truss debris. Employee #2, on the south wall, was able to maintain his balance and did not fall. Two employees were taken to area hospitals and two employees went to shock trauma. Employees #1, #3, and #4 received severe bruises and strains to various parts of their bodies and one received a scrape to his chin. Apparently, the recommendations for truss installation by the truss plate institute had not been followed correctly. Bracing was not installed properly and the correct size nails were not used.

Keywords: HIGH WIND, TRUSS, COLLAPSE, WORK RULES, CONSTRUCTION, LACERATION, FALL, BRACING, CONTUSION