Inspection Detail

Inspection: 313511198 - Athletic Polymer Systems Inc

Inspection Information - Office: San Bernardino District Office

Investigation Summary

On December 13, 2010, at a commercial building in Riversdale CA, an employer, a roofing contractor, performed roofing work. The employer installed six tie off points for fall protection on each side of the roof ridge. There were 24 corrugated plastic skylights on each side of the roof, with 12 skylights on each side. The work consisted of updating a corrugated metal panel roof with a 3:12 slope on the building. The process included inspecting and replacing bolts, inspecting the metal, cleaning the roof by power washing, caulking the panels, applying primer, applying a rust-colored resin and then application of an ultra-violet top coat. Employee #1, a permanent full time employee, was reassigned from the employer's field track installation operations to its roofing operations. This was Employee #1's first day as a roofing employee. Employee #1 reported to work at 7:00 a.m. At approximately 7:30 a.m., Employee #1 and another employee, his supervisor, climbed to the roof by ladder. Neither Employee #1 nor his supervisor connected to fall protection tie offs. The supervisor explained the procedures on the roof to Employee #1. Then the supervisor left the roof to operate the forklift below. The supervisor sounded the forklift horn, expecting Employee #1 to come over to the side of the roof where the forklift was. Employee #1 fell through a skylight and landed approximately 22 ft below on a concrete floor. Employee #1 suffered a concussion, a cut above the left eye, fractured facial bones, a broken jaw, a compound fracture of the left elbow, a broken left wrist, loss of feeling in three fingers of the left hand, tenderness and loss of feeling in his left shoulder, a bleeding spleen, pancreas injuries, broken vertebras and a fractured pelvis. When Employee #1 did not appear after the supervisor sounded the forklift horn, the supervisor sent another employee to the roof to check on Employee #1. The second employee saw that Employee #1 fell through the roof, and reported this to the supervisor. The supervisor went onto the roof, and then climbed down to Employee #1. Emergency services were contacted and responded to the site. Employee #1 was transported to a Riverside County medical center for treatment. Employee #1 received surgery for his broken jaw and compound left elbow fracture and two surgeries for his broken left wrist. Employee #1's spleen had to be removed. Employee #1's pancreas required an external drainage bag for two months. On December 13, 2010 at 1:30 p.m., the employer reported to the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) San Bernardino District Office that a serious injury had occurred.

Keywords: SKYLIGHT, FRACTURE, ROOF, SPLEEN, CONSTRUCTION, PANCREAS, FALL, FALL PROTECTION, CONCUSSION, UNTRAINED