| Case Name |
Fall from a scaffold while moving on it |
| Pictograph |
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| Date |
March 23, 1997 |
| Place |
Tokyo |
| Location |
The bridge construction site over the canal |
| Overview |
At the iron girder bridge with three spans over the canal, the extension of the vertical girder and the reinforcement of the floor panel at the central span finished, so he demolition work of the scaffold which had been set at the central span was done. When a worker who intended to install the main rope to the central span on the scaffold, he fell to the canal from the 4 meter-high scaffold. |
| Incident |
Fall from a scaffold while moving on it |
| Sequence |
* The extension of the vertical girder between the main girders, the reinforcement of the floor panel and replacement of guard pipe and handrail had already finished, and the work for removing the scaffold moved to the last procedure.
* The scaffolds of two spans (side span) out of three were suspension scaffolds, and since the central span is located over the shipping road and there should be left enough height for ships, the scaffold pipes were settled on the main girder flange and fixed by the clamp.
* Since the work on the scaffold had finished, the demolition work of the scaffold was started from the central span to the bridge abutment. The demolition work started from the privious day, and the disassembly was carried out according to the order of the sheet for protection, the stage panel and safety guard. In the morning of the day, four workers continued working, and after that, there existed only the scaffold pipe at the central span and the alley of one sheet scaffold.
* Though the wiring of the main rope was directed in KY activity in the morning, it had not been carried out before noon.
* Since the direction was issued again after lunch, in order to set the main rope, a worker was moving on the alley towards the center of the central span by pulling the main rope. And at that point, as the main rope got stuck on something, the worker lost his balance as a reaction, and he fell to the canal. |
| Cause |
* Though wearing life jacket was imposed, it was not observed.
* Even though the direction of wiring of the main rope had been issued, it had not been installed.
* The main rope was not wired also in the previous day, and a scaffold plank was removed.
* The operational procedure of demolition of the scaffold plank was wrong, and the sheet, the scaffold plank and the safety net were dismantled separately.
* The duty of the operation chief was neglected. |
| Countermeasures |
* The alley of one sheet should be changed to the two sheets overlay.
* Two main ropes should be wired between all girders.
* All workers are obliged to wear the life jackets.
* The assignment of the arrangement of the workers is announced in the tool box meeting.
* The procedure of the demolition work should be reconfirmed, and an explanatory meeting should be carried out in order to make everyone understand the procedure. |
| Knowledge Comment |
* During working at high altitute, the use of a main rope and a safety belt must be carried out.
* During working on the water surface, a life jacket must be worn.
* The manager confirms the state of achievement of what he had directed |
| Background |
* The height from the water level was so low at 4 meters, and the worker lost his sharpness because there was water below.
* The clearance below the girder was so low at 1.2m height that it forced the worker to work in an unstable half-crouching position, and there was no main rope because it was inconvenient at that place.
* As the victim was an expert, he had overconfidence that he would not fall, and he didn't wear the life jacket in spite of the fact that he couldn't swim. |
| Reason for Adding to DB |
To realize again how dangerous getting used to work. |
| Scenario |
| Primary Scenario
|
Carelessness, Insufficient Precaution, Carelessness, Insufficient Precaution, Insufficient Analysis or Research, Insufficient Prior Research, Poor Value Perception, Poor Safety Awareness, Organizational Problems, Poor Management, Regular Movement, Dangerous Movement, Regular Movement, Careless Movement, Bodily Harm, Harm to Physical Well-being, Bodily Harm, Death
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| Number of Deaths |
1 |
| Field |
Civil Engineering
|
| Author |
HOJO, Tetsuo (Institute of Technologists)
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