Inspection Detail

Inspection: 120269568 - All Ground Landscape

Inspection Information - Office: San Diego District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 6:46 a.m. on June 14, 2000, Employee #1, a handyman hired by a residential gardener to replace termite damaged roofing at a private residence, was on an aluminum extension ladder propped against the center of the garage. He was pulling and wiggling out damaged sections of the roof's overhang when he lost his balance and fell approximately 11 ft onto the paved driveway. The owner of the residence, who was 81 years old, as well as some neighbors, had heard hammering and music playing at approximately 6:45 a.m. Shortly thereafter, she heard the ladder falling onto the hard driveway surface and later saw Employee #1 on the ground, surrounded by paramedics. He had sustained a blunt trauma injury to the back of his head and was airlifted to Sharp Hospital, where he died two days later. The main causal factor was the employee's failure to ensure that the ladder was secured against displacement.

Keywords: HEAD, EXTENSION LADDER, UNSECURED, CARPENTER, WORK RULES, LADDER, FALL, LOST BALANCE, UNSTABLE POSITION