Inspection Detail

Inspection: 317203099 - Lovett & Lovett Roofing Co., Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Oakland District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 9:00 a.m. on January 28, 2014, Employee #1, employed by a roofing contractor, was part of a work crew engaged in a four-day re-roofing project on a three-story craftsman-style single family residence. Employee #1's immediate task was to install roofing felt, nosing, and flashing on a section of roofing at a brow eave above a set of first floor windows. This work needed to be accomplished before Employee #1's supervisor could install shingles. The supervisor was working directly above Employee #1 on the upper roof of the house. Employee #1 was working from an extension ladder set up in the driveway along the side of the house. As he nailed in flashing, Employee #1 lost his balance. The ladder slipped, causing him to fall down and to his left. Employee #1 landed on the driveway surface, a fall height of approximately 11 feet. Employee #1's supervisor heard Employee #1 yell as he fell, and from the supervisor's vantage point directly above, witnessed the last few feet of Employee #1's fall. Emergency services were called, and the Oakland Fire Department responded. Employee #1 was transported to the hospital, where he was admitted and treated for a fractured chest. This event was reported to Cal/OSHA by the Oakland Fire Department at 9:45 a.m. on January 28, 2014. A Cal/OSHA compliance officer arrived at the site and began an investigation at 1:35 p.m. on January 28, 2014, before the employer had the opportunity to contact Cal/OSHA as required. The investigation determined that the employer was a roofing contractor who had been in business for five generations and specialized in re-roofing projects. When the fall occurred, Employee #1 was installing the new flashing to the roof's brow eave. The base of the ladder from which he was working rested on a sloping concrete driveway, with scrap lumber placed under the downhill foot of the ladder in an attempt to level the base. The feet of the ladder were not positively secured. The top of the ladder was resting against the wall just above the top of the window. The brow being re-roofed overhung the wall approximately 12 inches at this location and was approximately 14 feet 2 inches directly above the driveway surface. At the corner of the house where the slope of the driveway leveled out to horizontal, the brow was approximately 16 feet 2 inches above the driveway. The slope of the driveway between these points was approximately 10 degrees. The ladder was not tied, blocked, held, or otherwise secured to prevent slipping. The investigation concluded that this event's main causal factor was failure to secure the ladder. Other contributing factors included the lack of effective training of the injured employee, and the awkward positioning of the ladder on the sloping driveway and beneath the brow overhang.

Keywords: CHEST, FRACTURE, INSTALLING, ROOF, UNSECURED, LADDER, CONSTRUCTION, FALL, FALL PROTECTION, UNTRAINED