Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1240702.015 - Trench Plate Rental Co

Inspection Information - Office: San Diego District Office

Investigation Summary

At 7:45 a.m. on April 22, 2017, Employee #1, employed by a company that rented trench protection equipment, was working at the employer's yard. He was operating a TX-280 Taylor Forklift VG8M34 to lift seven trench plates onto a delivery truck. The plates weighed approximately 22, 377 pounds. Employee #1 lifted the plates 12 to 24 inches using the tips of the forklift, in order to move the dunnage onto one side. He stepped up onto the half-elevated plates, and walked across the plates to get to the other side to insert the other dunnage. As he was crossing the plates, the forks slipped off the plates and struck Employee #1's left leg. Employee #1 was thrown into the air above the plates and then fell to the ground. Emergency services were called, and Employee #1 was transported to the hospital. He was admitted and treated for a serious injury to his left leg requiring a period of recovery and physical therapy. The employee was using a TX-280 Taylor forklift (VG8M34) to lift 7 steel trench plates (approx. 22,377 lbs) at the employers yard and load it to a delivery truck. The employer is a local trench shoring equipment supplier. The incident occurred on 4/22/17 at about 7:54 am and the Manager notified the Division on the same day at 10:33 a.m. The Division opened inspection at the employers worksite on 6/16/17 at 9:45 a.m. At the time of the incident the employee was working alone and had no supervision. The IE supervisor, asked the IE on 4/21/17 to come the day after and load the plates. The employee lifted the plates approx. 12-24 inch using the tips of the fork and inserted dunage on to one side, stepped up onto the half elevated plates, walked across the plates to get to the other side to insert the other dunage. While he was walking on the plates the forks slipped off the plates and hit the employee on his left leg. The forks were under stress from the load and as the plates fell off, the forks stored energy was released and hit employee causing him to get airborne a few feet off the plates as the plates fell to the ground. The employee landed a few feet away with injury to his left leg. If the employee was properly trained and had he followed the operators safety manual the injury could have been avoided The employer suffered a serious injury to his left leg and was hospitalized for more than 24 hours and is undergoing recovery and physical therapy. A general violation under GISO 3203(a)(4), for failure to evaluate hazards and a Serious Accident Related violation under GISO 3328(a)(2) , failure to use machine in accordance with manufacture recommendations were issued to the employer. The forks under compression form the load of the plates, and the stored energy being released harmed the employee.

Keywords: Aerial Lift, Construction, Dunnage, Equipment Failure, Equipment Operator, Leg, Loading, Material Handling, Powered Industrial Vehicle, Struck By