OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #893925
STERLING PLUMBING & HEATING CO., INC.
FAIRFAX, VA·
Event description
THREE EMPLOYEES INJURED IN HOUSE COLLAPSE DUE TO HIGH WIND
Investigation abstract
At 2:45 p.m. on March 31, 1989, Employees #1, 2 and 3 were inside a 2-story sing point the employees ran to get out, but the house collapsed on top of them. They had been on the first floor level at the time. Employee #1 was trapped just ins ide the back of the house, but the other two employees were able to free themsel ves. Employee #1 received a laceration over his right eye, a fractured upper leg and a low back injury. Employee #2 suffered rib and low back injuries. Employee #3 incurred a back injury. Employees #1 and two were hospitalized, and Employee #3 was treated and released. Prior to this occurrence the house appeared to hav e normal stability at this stage of construction. It was unable to withstand the sudden violent burst of wind which struck it. le family house under construction. The house was under roof with the stairs and all interior studding in place. The exterior walls, at that phase, consisted of 2 inch by 4 inch studs and styrofoam sheathing with the window and door opening s in place. Employees #1, 2, and #3 were installing the plumbing at this time. W hen they went into the house the weather was warm and sunny with a light breeze. Approximately 10 minutes later the sky darkened and the wind began to pick up c ausing the house to creak. A sudden burst of wind struck the house causing the r oof to apparently lift up a short distance and the house began to move. At this
Victims (4)
-
#1 Hospitalized Age 26 Male
- Nature of injury
- Fracture (12)
- Part of body
- MULTIPLE (19)
- Accident type
- CAUGHT IN OR BETWEEN (2)
- Source of injury
- BUILDINGS/STRUCTURES (8)
- Occupation
- Supervisors; plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters (557)
- Human factor
- MISJUDGMENT, HAZ. SITUATION (1)
- Environmental factor
- OVERHEAD MOVING/FALLING OBJ AC (6)
- Task assigned
- Task regularly assigned (1)
-
#2 Hospitalized Age 21 Male
- Nature of injury
- Bruise/Contus/Abras (3)
- Part of body
- MULTIPLE (19)
- Accident type
- STRUCK BY (1)
- Source of injury
- BUILDINGS/STRUCTURES (8)
- Occupation
- Plumber, pipefitter and steamfiter apprentices (587)
- Human factor
- MISJUDGMENT, HAZ. SITUATION (1)
- Environmental factor
- OVERHEAD MOVING/FALLING OBJ AC (6)
- Task assigned
- Task regularly assigned (1)
-
#3 Non-hospitalized injury Age 23 Male
- Nature of injury
- Bruise/Contus/Abras (3)
- Part of body
- BACK (3)
- Accident type
- STRUCK BY (1)
- Source of injury
- BUILDINGS/STRUCTURES (8)
- Occupation
- Plumber, pipefitter and steamfiter apprentices (587)
- Human factor
- MISJUDGMENT, HAZ. SITUATION (1)
- Environmental factor
- OVERHEAD MOVING/FALLING OBJ AC (6)
- Task assigned
- Task regularly assigned (1)
-
#981
Labels are OSHA's own, from the code dictionary published with the accident-investigation file. The raw code is shown beside each one so this page can be reconciled against OSHA's bulk data. OSHA notes that nature of injury, part of body, source of injury and accident type in this file are not coded to the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System, and that the occupation titles are not standardised — so these values are not directly comparable with the OIICS-coded severe injury reports.