Inspection Detail

Inspection: 310253703 - Crasto Glass & Mirror Co., Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Baton Rouge Area Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 9:00 a.m. on September 7, 2007, Employee #1, age 29, and coworkers were installing new aluminum window frames and windows in a downtown building under renovation. Employee #1 was standing on an 8-ft stepladder to drill holes in the frame to install the side plate when he put his foot on a 2-by-4 that the general contractor had placed in the window opening. The board was secured into the brick with four screws. When Employee #1 put his weight on the 2-by-4, the screws pulled out from the brick and he went through the window opening. He fell three stories to the sidewalk and sustained injuries from which he died the following day. Subsequent investigation revealed that a coworker had been fired the day before the accident for placing his foot on a 2-by-4 in the window. The superintendent had held a stand-down safety meeting and told all employees not to get off of the stepladders to work and not to stand on the 2-by-4s in the windows.

Keywords: INSTALLING, UNSECURED, BARRIER GUARD, WORK RULES, CONSTRUCTION, FALL, UNSTABLE POSITION