Inspection Detail

Inspection: 124817578 - G A Davidson General Contractor

Inspection Information - Office: Eugene

Investigation Summary

On June 16, 1994, Employee #1 was standing on three sections of 7 ft high scaffolding placed in a row, assisting in setting a ledger. Employee #1 took the south end of the ledger from another employee; cradling it with both hands between his legs, he started walking backwards across the scaffolding sections. As Employee #1 came to the last two sections of scaffolding, he placed one foot on the 2nd section of scaffolding and the other foot on the 3rd section. At the same time, the coworker moved to make an adjustment. As he did, Employee #1 lost his balance and fell back off the east side of the scaffold, landing between both shoulder blades and his neck. The other employees at the work site came to his aid. Employee #1 stated that he was all right and attempted to get up. The employees recommended that he stay down, but he insisted on standing up. After a short period of time, Employee #1 decided that he might be more seriously injured than he first thought. He was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital, where he was kept to repair damage to his spinal column.

Keywords: SPINE, WORK RULES, CONSTRUCTION, FALL, SET UP, WALKING BACKWARD, LOST BALANCE, SCAFFOLD, UNSTABLE POSITION