Inspection Detail

Inspection: 307395293 - Webcor Builders, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: San Francisco District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 8:30 a.m. on May 15, 2006, Employee #1, a laborer foreman, and Employee #2, a laborer, were working for Webcor Builders, Inc. Employee #2 was hoisting a wheelbarrow from the ground floor to the second floor deck of a building under construction. The perimeter of the second floor was guarded by a "slab-grabber" railing system. The hoisting was conducted alongside a ladder opening. A coworker tied a strap onto the 50-pound wheelbarrow and the strap was placed over the 2-inch by 4-inch top rail on the second floor decking. Employee #2 was on the second floor pulling the strap to hoist the wheelbarrow up. Meanwhile, the coworker was standing on the job-built ladder alongside the wheelbarrow to help push it up. Employee #1 noticed that Employee #2 was struggling to pull the wheelbarrow up and came to help. When they pulled the wheelbarrow up to the top rail, it gave way and the post for the "slab-grabber" next to the ladder opening became loose and fell. Employees #1 and #2 fell 14 feet the concrete slab. Employee #1 suffered two fractured wrists, and Employee #2 suffered bruises and a cut over his right eye. They were both transported to San Francisco General Hospital, where they were hospitalized.

Keywords: CONCRETE SLAB, FRACTURE, CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT FAILURE, HOIST, FALL, CONTUSION, WRIST