Inspection Detail

Inspection: 126152909 - Interior Removal Specialists

Inspection Information - Office: Los Angeles District Office

Investigation Summary

On October 8, 2005, Employee #1, sustained an open fracture of the right tibia and fibula while attempting to move a cast-iron 3-ton unit cylindrical blower. Employees were removing two old cast-iron 3-ton unit cylindrical blowers from a basement in Los Angeles. The units were located in the lower part of the basement level and had to be cut to smaller pieces so they could be hoisted out. One of the units was too close to a wall and needed to be moved so that the workers could get to the back of the unit in order to cut it. Utilizing four Hilman rollers (high capacity, low profile roller dollies used for moving, shifting and positioning extremely heavy weights) and track pads placed under the feet of the cast-iron blower, the Employees attempted to move the blower. Four coworkers pulled on the handles while a Supervisor and Employee #1 positioned themselves at opposite sides behind the unit to help keep it steady as the unit moved. The crew had moved the 3-ton unit about 18' inches when one of the Hilman Rollers got caught up a small piece of debris and stopped suddenly. The sudden stop which occurred at the one corner where Employee #1 was positioned and caused the blower to tip over and strike the Employee. Employee #1 was knocked to the ground. As the blower fell and over it struck Employee #1 right leg. Employee #1 sustained an open fracture of the right tibia and fibula which required hospitalization and orthopedic surgery.

Keywords: DEMOLITION, TIBIA, CONSTRUCTION, ROLLER CONVEYOR, CRUSHED, UNSTABLE SURFACE, STRUCK BY, LOST BALANCE, WORK SURFACE, LEG