Inspection Detail

Inspection: 315776344 - H.A. Bowen Electric, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Foster City District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 8:15 a.m. on July 18, 2013, Employee #1, an electrician employed by an electrical and other wiring installation company, was working as a subcontractor installing electrical wires in the Stage Area of a building site. He was operating a scissor lift, a Skyjack SJ111-3219, Equipment No. 103319. He moved the lift to the area where he intended to run electrical wires. After positioning the lift, he raised the lift's platform to reach the conduit on the ceiling. Employee #1 pushed the electrical wires from the left conduit to the right. After pushing the wires into the conduit, he needed to move the lift forward and to his right to pull the electrical wires from the other conduit. He was looking down from the top guardrail of the lift as he reached for the lift's controller behind him with his right hand, to move the lift forward. Employee #1 pushed the controller forward to drive the lift to the right. However, the lift's platform rose up. Employee #1 realized the toggle switch was on "lift" mode instead of a "drive" mode. He immediately released the controller and tried to move the platform down, but it continued to move up. Employee #1's face was caught between the lift's top guardrail and an overhead pipe. Eventually, Employee #1 was able to bring the platform down. Emergency services were called, and the San Mateo Fire Department responded. Employee #1 was transported to the hospital, where he was admitted and treated for multiple facial fractures. He was hospitalized for approximately three days. This event was reported to Cal/OSHA by the San Mateo Fire Department and the Employer at approximately 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., respectively, on July 18, 2013. Cal/OSHA initiated its investigation at the work site at approximately 10:15 a.m. on July 30, 2013. Participating in the inspection were Employee #1's foreman/supervisor, the project superintendent of the general contractor, and the field operations manager of the general contractor. The investigation revealed that Employee #1's employer had leased the scissor lift from Sunstate Equipment since October 16, 2012. The employer returned the scissor lift to Sunstate Equipment on July 19, 2013, the day after Employee #1 was injured. While the equipment was in the employer's possession, the lift's relay switch was replaced to correct a steering problem, and the platform control box was replaced due to the lift's inability to go up. Cal/OSHA did not issue an Accident-Related citation, because the investigation determined that the cause was not a violation of Title 8, California Code of Regulations (T8 CCR). However, Cal/OSHA issued one General Citation for the employer's failure to train and instruct its employee in the proper use of Skyjack III 3219 Scissor Lift, in accordance with the manufacturer's operating instructions, and Section 3203, Injury and Illness Prevention Program, a violation of T8 CCR, Section 3638(d).

Keywords: PLATFORM, FRACTURE, GUARDRAIL, INSTALLING, ELECTRICIAN, CONSTRUCTION, CAUGHT BETWEEN, CRUSHED, FACE, AERIAL LIFT