Inspection Detail

Inspection: 123746992 - Philippi Ranches Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Or-E-Salem 1054100

Investigation Summary

At approximately 9:30 a.m. on June 17, 1997, Employee #1 and five coworkers, all under age 18,, were in a summer wheat field, cutting off the tops of rye grass that had grown in with the wheat. They were close to the north end of the field, which ends at cliffs overlooking the Columbia River gorge, and decided to take their work break near the cliff's edge. Four of the coworkers sat on the ground, watching the river and Interstate 84 traffic; Employee #1 and a fifth coworker walked down about 100 yards to an easily accessible rock out-crop and started rolling rocks down the cliff. After a short time, one of the four coworkers yelled at them that it was time to return to work. Employee #1 and the coworker replied that they'd be back shortly, and the other four coworkers returned to work. About an hour later, the coworker that had been rolling rocks caught up with the other four coworkers and told them that Employee #1 had fallen down the cliff. The coworkers drove to the nearest house and called 911, then drove to the freeway and found Employee #1. The EMTs arrived and transported Employee #1 to the hospital, where he later died.

Keywords: AGRICULTURE, WORK RULES, FALL, INATTENTION