Inspection Detail

Inspection: 111835872 - Kilpatrick'S Bakeries, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Oakland District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 10:40 p.m. on June 5, 1992, Employee #1, a 61-year-old janitor with more than four years of experience at this site, was cleaning a canvas crumbs catch cloth that was hanging under a bread cooling conveyor line at a height of approximately 9 1/2 ft. Employee #1 stated that he was standing on the second rung of a 12 foot ladder (about 10 feet up) reaching for a grommet, when for an unknown reason the ladder moved and closed. Employee #1 fell and struck a wooden bench with his right side. Employee #1 suffered a fractured rib and a possible pneumothorax. He was immediately hospitalized for three days for observation and discharged to home. He returned to work with limited duty on August 16, 1992. Employee #1 had received instruction on the proper use of ladders. Also, ladder safety guidelines are posted at each ladder throughout the plant. Employee #1 did not give credible testimony. A determination could not be made as to his reasons for standing on the second rung (approximately 10 ft high) to reach a height of approximately 9 1/2 ft. There were no witnesses.

Keywords: FRACTURE, LUNG, COLLAPSE, WORK RULES, CLEANING, LADDER, RIB, FALL