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Inspection Detail
Note: The following inspection has not been indicated as closed. OSHA citation items will be posted 30 (thirty) days after the employer receives the citation(s), except in cases of significant public interest. Posted citation items reflect any amendments to citations that are the result of a prompt settlement, which OSHA encourages. Employers and employee representatives will continue to receive copies of the citation(s) upon issuance.
Inspection: 1580825.015 - Aronson Industries Inc.
Inspection Information - Office: Sacramento District Office
Site Address:
Aronson Industries Inc.
4400 Elkhorn Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95842
Mailing Address:
P.O Box 7420, Auburn, CA 95604
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:
NAICS: 561730/Landscaping Services
Inspection Type: Fat/Cat
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 07/05/2022
Emphasis:
Case Closed:
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 1869762 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 1 | 7 | 8 | |||
| Current Violations | 1 | 7 | 8 | |||
| Initial Penalty | $18,000 | $0 | $0 | $3,126 | $0 | $21,126 |
| Current Penalty | $10,800 | $0 | $0 | $3,126 | $0 | $13,926 |
| FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| # | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 01001 | Other | 1509(A) | 08/11/2022 | $275 | $275 | $0 | Z - Issued | |||
| 2. | 01002 | Other | 1509(B) | 08/11/2022 | $515 | $515 | $0 | Z - Issued | |||
| 3. | 01003 | Other | 1510(A) | 08/11/2022 | $515 | $515 | $0 | Z - Issued | |||
| 4. | 01004 | Other | 3203(A)(6) | 08/11/2022 | $516 | $516 | $0 | Z - Issued | |||
| 5. | 01005 | Other | 3205(C) | 08/11/2022 | $275 | $275 | $0 | Z - Issued | |||
| 6. | 01006 | Other | 3395(I) | 08/11/2022 | $515 | $515 | $0 | Z - Issued | |||
| 7. | 01007 | Other | 3664(B)(9) | 08/11/2022 | $515 | $515 | $0 | Z - Issued | |||
| 8. | 02001 | Serious | 1509(A) | 08/11/2022 | $10,800 | $18,000 | $0 | 10/26/2022 | O - Administrative Law Judge Order |
Investigation Summary
At 10:30 a.m. on February 16, 2022, Employee #1, a landscape technician, was operating a mini- excavator (model CAT 302.7D CR and product identification number CAT3027DJLJ702031) about 2 feet away from the wall, digging a trench about 12 inches deep for a drain line at a construction job site of a landscaping company . There were three employees at the accident jobsite. Coworker #1, a landscaping laborer/lead was about 6-7 feet away, and coworker #2, a laborer, was about a 1,000 feet away from Employee #1 when the accident happened. Coworker #1 heard a push-like sound. Coworker #1 turned around and saw Employee #1 pressed against the building by the tractor. No one saw what happened just before the accident, but Coworker #1 assumes Employee #1 was stepping out of the mini-excavator cab without raising the hydraulic control lockout lever, and therefore Employee #1's left knee hit the joystick that caused the tractor to swing and pin the employee between the tractor and the adjacent building. Employee #1 sustained serious anoxic brain injury, traumatic cardiac arrest, left pulmonary hemorrhage with active bleeding, right 4th-6th rib fracture with flail segments, left 5th-6th rib fracture with flail segments, and severe bilateral pulmonary contusions, which all lead to Employee #1's death. The employer did not train and instruct the operator on Employee Operating Instructions of the tractor; more specifically, the employer did not instruct Employee #1 to raise the hydraulic control lockout when stepping out of the excavator.
Keywords: Brain, Cardiac Arrest, Caught Between, Excavator, Fracture, Landscaper, Landscaping, Lockout, Lung, Pinned, Rib, Trench, Untrained, Work Rules
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1580825.015 | 30 | M | Fatality | Excavating and loading machine operators |