Inspection Detail

Inspection: 119633436 - Ophir Orr Dba New Garden Mechanics

Inspection Information - Office: American Canyon District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 2:00 p.m. on August 10, 2004, Employee #1 was fatally injured when he was crushed under a collapsing carport structure. Employee #1 was supervising two day labor employees in the demolition of a 4-post, free standing carport. Employee #1 was under the structure, providing tools to the employees who were on stepladders on the north side, prying up roof joists from the headers and laying them loose on the headers. The employees were removing the joists one at a time on the south side of the carport, and were working on the last joist. Employee #1 and one of his employees removed the two diagonal braces between the columns and the joist, and the employees began removing the joist from the headers when they heard a loud cracking sound and saw that the west side of the structure started to collapse. Employee #1 was under the structure and tried to run east but was hit by the 4-ft-by-16-ft-by-24-ft wood header that knocked him down and landed on his chest. The work site was a single family home that was being remodeled. The carport was being replaced by a garage structure. The four diagonal braces were removed that day by the crew, which reduced the structures stability and ability to safely support the 18 loose 2ft-by-10-ft-by-24-ft joists left lying on it, allowing it to tip and collapse.

Keywords: CHEST, JOIST, WOOD SLAB, COLLAPSE, STEPLADDER, CONSTRUCTION, CRUSHED, STRUCK BY, FALLING OBJECT