OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #221425176
TUNGSTEN STRAWBERRY LODGE LLC
KYBURZ, CA·
Event description
Rooftop snow falls on employee and asphyxiates employee
Investigation abstract
A portable generator (FIRMAN 3650) was used to charge accessories during power January 4, 2022, the coworker went to the kitchen area and plugged flashlights into the power strip to charge the flashlights. The coworker observed that the power strip had no power, but could hear that the generator was running. The coworker looked out of the kitchen's window and saw that snow had filled the hole that was dug 1.5 to 2 weeks ago to unbury the generator. The coworker assumed that the snow falling on the generator might have unplugged the extension cord. The coworker decided to shovel the snow around the generator to plug in the extension cord. The coworker dug the snow for about 2.5 hours and saw that the plywood had fallen horizontally facing the building. The coworker cleared the snow from the top of the plywood. The coworker lifted the plywood outages. Employee #1 maintained this portable generator. On September 22, 2021, and saw Employee #1 underneath the plywood. Employee #1 was on the generator, with his head facing toward the building, in a kneeling position and stiff. 911 was called, and Employee #1 was pronounced dead at the scene. Employee #1 sustained fatal injury due to being pinned in between plywood and a portable generator when the snow fell from a roof top on the plywood and Employee #1 remained under the snow approximately 3-4 hours while the generator was running. Employee #1 had placed the portable generator in the backyard in a location where it was beneath the edge of the building. An extension cord was used from the generator to the kitchen area. The snowfall on December 13, 2021 had buried the portable generator. After the snowfall, Employee #1 and a coworker unburied the generator, but did not relocate it. Before Christmas, Employee#1 built an A-frame structure out of two pieces of 3 feet by 4 feet plywood to put over the generator in order to keep snow away from the generator. At 1:00 p.m. on
Victim
-
#1 Fatality Age 63 M
- Event type
- 2
- Occupation code
- 405
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