Inspection Detail

Inspection: 120226451 - Westwood Products Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Investigation Summary

On May 5, 2003, Employee #1, a mechanics assistant and fork lift driver, was helping to move materials out of a building used for storage of equipments and material. Most of the stored items in the facility were removed by that time. One piece of pipe kept on the roof top remained to be moved out. Employee #1 went to the roof top to facilitate removal of the pipe with the help of a fork lift truck (Komatsu model FG35ST-5, Serial Number 060066A, Capacity: 7150 lbs). The fork lift truck was being operated by a coworker (a maintenance mechanic). After the pipe was removed, Employee #1 boarded the fork of the fork lift truck at the roof level (approximately 12 ft above ground level.) Employee #1 put both feet on a fork of the forklift truck and was holding part of the mast of the truck with his left hand. Employee #1 was holding a power drill with his right hand. As the mast was coming down Employee #1 noticed the roller chains in the mast coiling up and asked the operator to raise the mast. As the operator tried to raise the mast there was a sudden jerk and the fork suddenly fell approximately 2 ft resulting in Employee #1 falling a distance of approximately 10 ft to the ground. During the fall, Employee #1's chin struck a part of the mast causing severe laceration which required 12 sutures. Employee #1's right upper hand was fractured, his injured right arm required 40 sutures and his right knee required 5 sutures. Employee #1 was hospitalized for 4 days.

Keywords: KNEE, FRACTURE, BOOM, INDUSTRIAL TRUCK, LACERATION, FALL, ARM, FACE, HAND