Inspection Detail

Inspection: 301134557 - Federal Express

Inspection Information - Office: Oakland District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 10:49 p.m. on October 30, 2002, Employee #1, a Material Handler for Federal Express Corporation, was assigned to mate a Food Machine Corporation Commander 30 cargo loader to a McDonnel-Douglas (Boeing) MD-11 aircraft located at gate 14 at Oakland International Airport. The Commander 30 is a diesel-powered, self-propelled, hydraulically operated cargo loader capable of lifting loads weighing up to 30,000 pounds. Its minimum main platform height is 19 inches and its maximum height is 18 feet, 4 inches. The operator control panel is situated on the left rear corner of the device (the front is the end that mates to the cargo door of the aircraft). When the loader was being filled, the operator was positioned at the minimum platform height above ground level. When the loader was elevated to the height of the cargo door of an MD-11, the operator was positioned approximately 16 feet above ground level. Access to and egress from the control panel, when the loader was in an elevated position, was via a vertical 20-rung extension ladder that was affixed to the loader. The rails of the ladder were constructed of bar steel. The rungs were constructed of one-inch tubular steel with knurled stepping surfaces. At the time of the incident, Employee #1 began the task of mating the loader to the aircraft. Her team leader, who was to have assisted in guiding the loader against the aircraft, left gate 14 and went to assist another employee at gate 16. Employee #1 stated she moved the loader to within three feet of the door of the aircraft. She says she stopped the process because she had no guide-person. Employee #1 then attempted to descend the ladder to the ground to wait for a guide-person. She stated..."I got about 2 to 3 steps down the ladder when my left foot slipped off the ladder rung and my right hand hadn't grabbed on the ladder fully; and I slipped off, falling to the ground and landing on my left ankle and leg." She fell approximately 14 feet, fracturing her left ankle. Several factors caused her to slip and fall. First, the temperature dropped approximately five degrees Fahrenheit during the hour prior to the incident, and the relative humidity increased by ten per cent during the same period. This caused condensation to form on the ladder, making the rungs moist. Second, Employee #1 was wearing white cotton gloves with worn rubber palms. She stated she had used them for about three weeks and "the palms of my gloves were smooth with no real grip." Third, she was wearing steel toe boots that had been in use for more than six months. The tread on the soles and heels of the shoes was worn almost completely smooth. Employee #1 was hospitalized to treat her fractured ankle.

Keywords: FRACTURE, LADDER, FALL, ANKLE