Inspection Detail

Inspection: 307398917 - Alpha Restoration & Waterproofing

Inspection Information - Office: San Francisco District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 10:55 a.m. on December 6, 2007, Employees #1 and #2, of Alpha Restoration and Waterproofing, and a coworker from another company were riding on a two-point suspended scaffold to survey the facade of the 22-story building in San Francisco, CA. The scaffold had been erected and installed by a separate company, Elevator, LLC. Employees #1 and #2 were operating the hoist motors and the coworker was in the middle of the platform. All three were wearing safety harnesses and the lanyards were attached to three separate safety lines. The suspended scaffold moved upward to the 22nd floor, finished work at that level, and then moved down, stopping below the floor slab level of the 22nd floor. They paused at the 21st floor slab level to get over a water table. They were starting to descend again when the left side of the scaffold's hoist adapter strap failed and detached from the left hoist motor, causing the scaffold to collapse while in service. Employee #1 pulled himself up to safety and Employee #2 was rescued from the fire escape. The coworker was suspended in her harness for approximately 15 minutes before being rescued. All three workers were taken to California Pacific Medical Center for additional examination and X-rays, and were then released that same day.

Keywords: HOISTING MECHANISM, CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT FAILURE, HOIST, TWO PT SUSP SCAFFOLD