Inspection Detail

Inspection: 126786862 - H & L Contracting

Inspection Information - Office: Utah Division Of Occupational Safety And Health

Investigation Summary

Employee #1 was working alone as a framer on the second floor of a house under construction. His coworkers were rolling sheeting in an adjacent room, which was separated by a common wall. A coworker on the other side of the wall asked Employee #1 for a piece of sheeting that was on his side. Employee #1 responded and found a full sheet on the floor. The wall was braced by 2 by 4 boards at both ends and at an approximately 45 degree angle near the open wall corners. Employee #1 attempted to slide the sheeting under the bracing and around the corner wall opening to the coworker, but it became wedged under the brace. He tried to dislodge it by pulling it away from the brace in line with a 10 ft 9 in. long by 3 ft 5 in. wide stairwell opening. Employee #1 was pulling the sheeting from the wall brace when he backed into the open stairwell and fell 18 ft to the basement. He sustained lacerations to the back of his head that required 13 stitches to close, a concussion, a dislocated left knee, and contusions on his legs, back, arms, and hands. The stairwell opening was not guarded.

Keywords: HEAD, UNGUARDED FL OPENING, BARRIER GUARD, WORK RULES, CAUGHT BY, CONSTRUCTION, STAIR LANDING, FALL, CONCUSSION, WALKING BACKWARD