Inspection Detail

Inspection: 123900870 - Schamber Electric Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Santa Ana District Office

Investigation Summary

On January 24, 2006, Employees #1 and #2 were installing recessed electrical lighting fixtures into the second story ceiling. Their employer was an electrical contractor. Employees #1 and #2 stopped their work, when they reached the ceiling area above the entryway because they did not have a ladder to access the 20-ft high ceiling. At that time, the structure was in the framed stage, and a tubular aluminum safety rail was installed around the stair well and second level. Rather than obtaining a ladder to safely continue their work, Employees #1 and #2 nailed a 2-in. by 4-in. cleat on the stairwell studs, and then placed one end of a plank on the cleat and the other end on top of the second level safety rail, at a height of 14.5 ft. Then Employee #1 walked out on the plank to continue installing the recessed lighting. Employee # 2 went to get a saw and returned shortly thereafter, to find Employee #1 lying on the first floor. Employee #1 told Employee #2 that the plank had slid out from under him, and then he fell and struck the slab floor below. Employee #1 was transported to the hospital, where he was hospitalized for surgery on his fractured right hip and pelvis.

Keywords: FRACTURE, INSTALLING, WORK RULES, ELECTRICIAN, CONSTRUCTION, PELVIS, FALL, FALL PROTECTION, HIP, UNSTABLE POSITION