OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14491179

FRONT END LOADER,WALL,DEMOLITION,COLLAPSE,VIBRATIONS

1985-02-01T00:00:00

Event: FRONT END LOADER,WALL,DEMOLITION,COLLAPSE,VIBRATIONS
Linked inspection: No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number: 14491179
Report ID: 214500

Event description

COLLAPSED CEMENT BLOCK WALL

Investigation abstract

EMPLOYEE #1 WAS USING A FRONT END LOADER TO DEMOLISH BUILDING EQUIPMENT ADJACENT TO A NON-LOAD-BEARING CEMENT BLOCK WALL INSIDE A BUILDING. THE WALL WAS APPROXI MATELY 13' HIGH. EMPLOYEE #2 WAS PASSING WITHIN 5 FEET OF THE WALL AT THE TIME O F THE DEMOLITION ACTIVITY AND THE ENTIRE WALL COLLAPED ON HIM. EMPLOYEE DIED OF INJURIES THE NEXT DAY. THE FRONT END LOADER WAS A 45,000 LB. CATERPILLAR #977L W ITH FRONT BUCKET EQUIPPED WITH A CLAM ATTACHMENT. THE VIBRATION FROM THIS LARGE MACHINE ALONE COULD HAVE CAUSED THE BLOCK WALL TO LOOSEN AND COLLAPSE.

Victim

#1 Fatality Age 19 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
1

Event type
1

Source
8

Occupation code
999

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
6

Task assigned
1

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