Accident: 170614481 - Injured In Fall From Tree

On July 7, 1997, Employee #1, a crew foreman for a tree trimmer, was on an afternoon break. To demonstrate free-climbing techniques, he climbed a small 8 in. diameter Douglas fir tree. When he neared the top he reached out to grab a nearby fir tree, but fell 30 ft to the ground, breaking small limbs on the way down. Employee #1 sustained fractured vertebrae, for which he was hospitalized. In a written statement dated September 30, 1997, he said the accident had nothing to do with the company's contract to clean up the brush, and that the fall was the result of horseplay.

horseplay, tree trimming, work rules, fall, tree, fracture, vertebra

Accident: 170696827 - Ankle Fractured Between Pallets In Moving Truck

On June 27, 1996, Employee #1 was locked inside a van trailer by two coworkers in an incident of horseplay. The truck driver was then signaled to pull forward. Employee #1 was trapped between sliding pallets when the truck moved, and he suffered a serious ankle fracture. No management personnel were present nor did they have reason to believe that such an incident would occur. No violations were found.

truck, trailer truck, horseplay, pallet, caught between, ankle, fracture, work rules, load shift

Accident: 171054232 - Injured When Thrown From Spinning Ride

At approximately 1:00 p.m. on June 4, 1996, Employee #1, age 15, of Amusement Alliance, was working at the large flying chair ride in Liberty Park. Once the patrons were seated in the chairs he started the ride, and then grabbed a set of free hanging chair cables. As the ride began spinning both the seated patrons and Employee #1 were lifted into the air by virtue of centrifugal force. Employee #1 could not maintain his grip on the cables and was thrown off the ride. He landed on the pavement, fracturing both legs and suffering a concussion.

amusement ride, ejected, work rules, fall, leg, fracture, head, concussion, horseplay

Accident: 171045404 - Finger Injured When Nail Gun Discharges

Employee #1 was part of a crew on a lay-up line for pallet assembly. Just prior to the accident, he had been reaching into the work area of the nail gun operator in a form of horseplay. The lead person on the line stopped work briefly and tried to correct Employee #1's behavior. A short time later, with a different coworker operating the nail gun, Employee #1 again reached into the work area around the nail gun. The coworker had already started the downward movement of the gun onto the wood, and, since he was bump-firing the gun, it discharged a nail into Employee #1's finger as the safety struck his hand. The resulting fracture became infected and Employee #1 was hospitalized the following day. Subsequent investigation revealed that not all means had been taken by the employer to require employees to work and act in a safe manner.

finger, nail, portable power tool, horseplay, hand, struck by, work rules

Accident: 170620751 - Eye Punctured By Coworker'S Knife

Employee #1 was checking the damage on a car panel when a coworker arrived on the scene. The employees decided to play "tic-tac-toe" on the car door. Employee #1 was on his knees and the coworker was holding Employee #1's knife. When Employee #1 turned his head, the knife entered his left eye. He was hospitalized with a puncture wound.

knife, eye, door, inattention, puncture, work rules, automobile, horseplay

Accident: 171043102 - Killed When Tractor Rolls Over Down Embankment

At approximately 9:00 a.m. on July 28, 1995, Employee #1, age 18, was operating a tractor when he engaged in horseplay with another employee. According to witnesses, he was trying to pass a coworker on another piece of equipment when he drove off a dirt embankment. The tractor rolled over and pinned Employee #1 under its rear tire. He sustained serious head and shoulder injuries, and was killed.

roll-over, tractor, agriculture, farm machinery, horseplay, work rules, lost control, embankment, pinned, head