Inspection Detail

Inspection: 300792355 - Imperial Irrigation District

Inspection Information - Office: San Diego District Office

Investigation Summary

On December 18, 2002, Employee #1 and a coworker were working in the 4/1 and 4/2 water service pits at the east side of Cooling Tower Number 4. Employee #1 and the coworker were making repairs to a 6-inch water pipe in the 4/2 water service pit. The coworker was making welds to the straight run section of the pipe, while Employee #1 was operating a mini-mite puller come-along (Jet Equipment Tools, Model Number 5830) to raise a suspended 12-foot long, 6-inch diameter s-shaped metal pipe section that was attached with a sling (Number ES1-802) to the stairwell I-beam. Since the 35-foot, 6-inch diameter straight run of pipe was three inches from the wall, the suspended pipe section was raised by Employee #1 to the west to make the first weld by the coworker and then raised to the east to make the next weld. At this point, the sling attached to the come-along hook disengaged and the s-shaped pipe section swung downward and struck Employee #1 on the back of his neck and shoulder, since he was in the path of the swinging pipe section. Employee #1 fractured his C-6 and C-7 vertebrae from contact with the swinging pipe section. He was in the hospital for surgery to fuse his fractured vertebrae and remained in the hospital for seven days.

Keywords: FRACTURE, SHOULDER, NECK, PIPE, STRUCK BY