Inspection Detail

Inspection: 116312240 - Rankin Construction

Inspection Information - Office: Dallas Area Office

Investigation Summary

Employee #1 was realigning a ceiling joist by pulling the joist back into place with a cheap come-along and some fabric straps. He made an attachment point on the floor by securing two parallel approximately 2 ft long 2 by 4s to the floor by drilling holes in the concrete and bolting the boards down with "tap-cons" (fasteners used with concrete). A 2 by 4 was then nailed across the floor-mounted 2 by 4s, and one end of one of the fabric straps was fastened to that 2 by 4. Another strap was connected to the joist at the ceiling, and a come-along was connected between the tow straps. Employee #1 was standing beside the come-along actuating the lever, when a connection failed. Some part of the setup either struck Employee #1 on the back of the head and neck or pulled his legs out from under him, causing his head and neck to strike against the floor. He was killed.

Keywords: HAND WINCH, WORK RULES, CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT FAILURE, FALL, STRUCK BY, FALLING OBJECT, WINCH