CA Transportation: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Dec 20, 2019: Employee is infected with pneumonia

At 8:00 a.m. on December 20, 2019, an employee was working at a government transportation administration when he became ill with pneumococcal pneumonia and was hospitalized to treat aspergillosis as a secondary infection.

Incident on Dec 7, 2018: Employee repairing potholes injures head and body when struc

At 9:35 a.m. on December 7, 2018, Employee #1 and a coworker, employed by a road construction company, were filling potholes with asphalt along the shoulder of a highway. A van veered onto the shoulder and struck Employee #1. Emergency services transported the employee to the hospital, where he was admitted and treated for multiple injuries to his body and head.

Incident on Mar 13, 2018: Employee is overexposed to carbon monoxide, falls and fractu

At 6:30 a.m. on March 13, 2018, an employee was exiting a Sasquatch Snow King Camper after spending approximately 6.5 hours working inside of it. The employee had become dizzy due to exposure to elevated levels of carbon monoxide inside the camper generated by the exhaust of a gasoline powered generator. Upon exiting the camper, the employee fell down the steps striking his head, resulting in a skull fracture. The employee was hospitalized in excess of 24 hours for treatment of a brain hemorrhage as result of the skull fracture and carbon monoxide over exposure.

Incident on Aug 19, 2017: Worksite inspector is pinned and injured by rebar bundle

At 11:30 a.m. on August 19, 2017, Employee #1, employed by a state transportation department, was at a multiemployer bridge construction project. He was inspecting construction work being performed by the general contractor. Two workers employed by the general contractor were lifting a bundle of Number 5 Rebar when Employee #1 moved close to the work process and was pinned by the rebar bundle. Emergency services were called, and Employee #1 was transported to the hospital. He subsequently required surgery to repair his injury. repair his injury.

Incident on May 24, 2017: Employee is caugth in automatic garage door opener and fract

At approximately 8:00 a.m. on May 24, 2017, Employee #1 was troubleshooting an electric motor on a automatic garage door opener. The garage door abruptly closed and caught his vest and clothing, which became entangled within the spinning spring coil of garage door. As his clothing entangled in the spring coil, it choked him and fractured his shoulder. Someone turned off the automatic garage door and summoned emergency medical personnel. They arrived and transported Employee #1 to a medical center, where he underwent treatment on the shoulder fracture and was then hospitalized.

Incident on Mar 22, 2017: Employee is injured when vibratory roller overturns

At approximately 5:30 p.m. on March 22, 2017, an employee was moving a vibratory roller to a lower level location when the equipment overturned. He slid down the hill hit a tree and tipped over. The employee suffered head injury and lost consciousness and was hospitalized.

Incident on Apr 21, 2013: Employee is struck by tree limb, sustains fracture

At approximately 8:38 a.m. on April 21, 2013, Employee #1, with Ca Transportatio n, had just been released from the snow removal crew and was temporarily assigne d to a maintenance crew doing tree trimming. As the crew was trimming trees from the closed freeway lane using pole saws, Employee #1 and a coworker suggested t o their lead-person that they would like to go below the overpass to get a bette r angle on a tree. Employee #1 suggested that if the thick vegetation was not to o bad, they could go down and look at the tree. According to the lead-person, he left Employee #1 and the coworker to work on a lane closure at the other end of the project but told a second coworker to keep an eye on them. Employee #1 atte mpted to cut down the tree, which was approximately 18 ft and 4 ins. tall and 14 ins. in diameter. The tree did not fall in the direction Employee #1 had intend ed. Instead, the tree fell on Employee #1 as he was escaping. Employee #1 was no t trained by the employer in the use of a chain saw nor in tree felling operatio ns. In fact, none of the crew or management of the crew were trained in tree fel ling. There was not a qualified tree person involved in the tree felling operati on. Employee #1 was hospitalized with an unspecified fracture.

Incident on Apr 24, 2013 (fatal): One employee is injured in rock slide, two are killed

On April 24, 2013, Employee #1, #2 and #3 were part of a maintenance crew and co nducting rock-scaling activities on an existing landslide that was located above a highway. The rock-scaling activities involved a crew of climbers who would ra ppel down the face of the landslide and dislodge unstable rocks and other debris with hand tools. The rocks would then slide down and be removed by a ground cre w. During the course of the work, a significant rockslide occurred above the sus pended crew. All employees were caught in the slide. Employee #1 and #2 sustaine d traumatic injuries that killed them. Employee #3 suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital, where he was hospitalized.

Incident on Nov 8, 2012: Employee is found unresponsive in bathroom facility, dies

On September 19, 2012, Employee #1 had a seizure while utilizing a bathroom faci lity. The employee has past history of seizures. A coworker found Employee #1 un responsive, and called 911 then performed CPR, on the employee until paramedics arrived. Employee #1 was transported to St. James hospital in Chicago Heights, w here he was pronounced dead.

Incident on Aug 23, 2012: Employee fractures right femur in floor slip incident

At approximately 1:50 p.m., on August 23, 2012, Employee # 1 went to the kitchen /lunch room area to wash some fruit. Upon entering the room, he slipped to the f loor and was found lying there by other employees. He was transported by paramed ics to White Memorial Hospital where he stayed for the next 11 days; he was late r transferred to a rehabilitation hospital for another 18 days. During this time , he was treated for a fracture of his right femur.

Incident on Jun 6, 2011: Employee fractures neck when mower overturns

On June 6, 2011, Employer # 1 was working as an Equipment Operator for the State of California Department of Transportation. Employee #1 was operating a John De ere Tractor with a mowing attachment. Employee #1 was mowing the edge of Highway 36 in Humboldt County, when he felt the ground settle as he drove on the edge. Employee #1 stopped his tractor to prepare to dismount and assess the situation. However, the tractor rolled over and down the hillside. Employee #1 was hospita lized with fractured neck, five fractured ribs and a punctured lung.

Incident on Apr 25, 2011: Employee suffers stroke at work

On May 11, 2012, Employee #1 and a coworker were just finishing their shift and had been loading supplies on the work truck for the following day. The coworker left the immediate area of the truck for a few minutes and upon return, found Em ployee #1 lying face down on the asphalt paving with his arms tucked on his ches t. Employee #1 was conscious but could not communicate, and was still wearing hi s ball cap and glasses and there was no visible sign of trauma. The fire departm ent responded within minutes and transported Employee #1 to an area hospital whe re he was treated for a stroke.

Incident on Dec 29, 2010: Employee is injured in jump from front end loader

On December 29, 2010, a California Department of Transportation employee was cle aring a slide from a highway in Siskiyou County using a Caterpillar 936 G front end loader. As the employee pushed slide material over the edge of the roadway, the loader's brakes failed as the equipment approached the edge of the road adja cent to the Klamath River. The employee was unable to stop the loader. The emplo yee then released his seat belt and jumped out the right side window. The loader rolled three times down the riverbank and landed upright in the Klamath River. The employee experienced bruising and minor lacerations to his chest and face.

Incident on Nov 14, 2010 (fatal): Employee is killed when struck by vehicle

On November 14, 2010, Employee #1, a labor for California Department of Transpor tation, was struck by a vehicle that entered through the traffic control cones. Employee #1 was launched 51 feet and died at the scene.

Incident on Dec 22, 2008: Employee dies from myocardial infarction

On December 22, 2008, Employee #1, an equipment operator, was found sitting on t he floor of the shop beside his work vehicle and having trouble breathing. Emerg ency medical personnel were summoned. He was transported to a medical center, wh ere he died. The cause of death was a possible heart attack.

Incident on Jan 8, 2008: Employee injured in jump down roadbank to avoid truck

On January 8, 2008, Employee #1 was working in snowy conditions on a mountain hi ghway. He was preparing to place a cautionary flare when he had to jump down the roadbank to avoid being hit by a sliding truck. Employee #1 suffered a strained back and possible hip injuries. On May 19, 2008, he underwent surgery related t o the injuries sustained in the accident.

Incident on Mar 4, 2008: Maintenance worker is injured in fall from rock fall fence

Employee #1, employed by the State of California Department of Transportation as a maintenance worker, was assisting in the repair of a rock fall fence. Employe e #1 was using a system of ropes, shackles and climbing gear to support him as h e climbed over the sloped hill side. Some points were vertical. Employee #1 tied off to the fence cables at the top of the hill side. Employee #1 tied off to a shackle. Employee #1 tied off to the shackle pin instead of the saddle portion. While working, the movement of Employee #1's rope on the pin caused it to come l oose. This caused Employee #1 to fall approximately 20 feet to the roadway. Empl oyee #1 sustained fractures to his feet and back. He was hospitalized.

Incident on Mar 4, 2008: Employee fractures leg in fall

On March 4, 2008, Employee #1 fell four feet from a walking surface to the grade below. He suffered a fracture to his lower leg and had to be hospitalized for t reatment.

Incident on Dec 14, 2007 (fatal): Employee killed when struck while crossing exit ramp

On December 14, 2007, Employee #1, a maintenance worker with the California Depa rtment of Transportation (Caltrans), was part of a three-man crew assigned to ri de along I-5, looking for and filling in potholes. They found a large pothole in lane 2 at the base of the I-5 southbound exit ramp for Elk Grove Blvd. They par ked both Caltrans trucks on the shoulder of the I-5 ramp, and a coworker took a lookout position. Employee #1 walked across the exit ramp, placed a shovelful of patch material into the pothole, and then headed back to the trucks. At this po int, the lookout yelled at Employee #1, although it is not known if he heard the shout. A southbound semi-truck and trailer passed Employee #1, and seconds late r, he started running across the exit ramp, toward the parked Caltrans trucks. H e was about half-way across the ramp when he was struck by an F-150 pickup truck headed up the ramp. Employee #1 was pronounced dead at the scene.

Incident on Oct 24, 2007: Employee injured when grinder severs tendon near elbow

On October 24, 2007, Employee #1, an experienced mechanic, was using a DeWalt D2 8494 portable grinder when he lost control of it. The grinder wheel traveled ove r his arm and severed a tendon near his elbow. He was transported to the hospita l, where he was admitted for treatment. Employee #1 was trained and was using th e grinder in a normal manner. He later stated that the guard was in place at the time of the accident and the grinder "just got away from me." At the time of th e inspection, the guard was found to be in place and in good condition.

Incident on Nov 22, 2005: Employees back fractured when he is crushed by a tree

At approximately 1:00 p.m. on November 22, 2005, Employee #1 was removing a tree along the side of a road embankment. He made a straight cut across the 17-in. d iameter trunk and it fell on him. He was hospitalized with an injury to his vert ebrae.

Incident on Nov 22, 2005: Employee struck in the eye by flying object

On November 22, 2005, Employee #1 was standing on a stepladder leaning towards a rack to cut a quarter inch bolt. While attempting to cut the bolt with a pair o f 14-in. bolt cutters, his prescription safety glasses slid down his nose. The c hipped piece of bolt struck his eye above were the glasses slid down. He was hos pitalized with a detached cornea and ruptured globe.

Incident on Apr 26, 2005: Employee burned by equipment fire

At approximately 7:00 a.m. on April 26, 2005, Employee #1, an equipment operator , was driving a John Deere loader, model number 544C, from the yard in Diamond B ar, where the loader was kept, to a jobsite. When he was on Village Loop Road, E mployee #1 heard a "ka-boom" or the sound of something exploding, and then saw f lames coming from beneath his seat. By the time Employee #1 stopped the loader a nd dismounted, he was burned on 15 percent of his body. Employee #1 was hospital ized.

Incident on Oct 7, 2004: Employee's finger is amputated by cover on street sweeper

At approximately 12:40 p.m. on October 7, 2004, Employee #1, a mechanic, was att empting to prop up a cover on a street sweeper. The cover fell and amputated the first digit of his left little finger. He was hospitalized at the San Leandro h ospital.

Incident on Oct 21, 2003: Employee injured in boom basket when struck by vehicle

At approximately 10:00 a.m. on October 21, 2003, Employee #1, a heavy equipment operator under training as an electrical technician, and a coworker, were replac ing street traffic lights at an intersection. They drove separate vehicles, Empl oyee #1 in a pick up truck and the coworker in a truck mounted hoist with an art iculating boom aerial device. The pick up truck was parked at the outer-most lan e of the southwest bend of the intersection facing south. The coworker placed a cone to block traffic on that lane. The light to be replaced was above the secon d lane. The coworker, a tree maintenance worker, was also under training as an e lectrical technician. At approximately 9:30 a.m., they had a job briefing and th en parked the aerial lift truck under the traffic light to be replaced, and plac ed cones along side it. Employee #1 stated that they were not told to block the traffic lane under the boom basket, only the area around the truck. Employee #1 climbed in and rode the boom basket up. The coworker saw the bottom of the baske t as it went up, then went to retrieve some lamps. He heard a noise as a truck h it the aerial truck. The coworker saw Employee #1 hanging from the boom basket b y her safety harness. She was hospitalized with body cuts and burses.

Incident on Aug 16, 2001: Employee falls six feet

On August 16, 2001, Employee #1, an engineer, had climbed on top of a portable t railer to observe a filter change in the exhaust system of the oven that was con tained in the trailer. The back door of the trailer was open and upright. Employ ee #1 mistakenly stepped on it. This door is not supported by anything other tha n small hydraulic rams, like those used on a car hood, and are not made to suppo rt a person's weight. Employee #1 fell to the ground approximately 6 ft and suff ered a compression fracture of the T-11 vertebrae. He was hospitalized.

Incident on Oct 14, 1999: Employee suffers hernia after lifting piece of concrete

Employee # lifted a piece of concrete and suffered a hernia. It was undetermined as to weather this aggravated a pre-existing condition. Employee #1 did not go to the doctor until the next day. Employee #1 has surgery to repair the hernia.

Incident on Jun 1, 1999 (fatal): Employee killed when crushed by falling mower unit

At approximately 12:30 p.m. on June 1, 1999, Employee #1, of the California Depa rtment of Transportation, was removing some wire from a mower reel when the mowe r came down on him. Employee #1 was crushed and killed.

Incident on May 3, 1998: Employee injured when struck by hedge trimmer

At approximately 9:45 a.m. on May 3, 1998, Employee #1 and coworkers were tasked to cut and clear the shrubs and bushes along a freeway exit to make the roadway more visible to motorists. They set up the road closure, checked their equipmen t, and started cutting the hedges and bushes. Employee #1 was using a Double-Edg e Trimmer and had a coworker assisting him by pushing back the hedges he cut. Em ployee #1 came to a slope on the ground and lost his footing. He slipped and fel l forward striking the hedge trimmer. Employee #1 sustained lacerations on his l eft hand and on his chin and was taken to the hospital.

Incident on Jul 12, 1994: Employee fractures kneecap in fall to ground

At approximately 1:30 p.m. on July 12, 1994, Employee #1 was placing traffic con es on highway 89. He stepped on a rock, twisting his ankle and falling on his le ft knee. Employee #1 was transported by paramedics to Tahoe Forest Hospital in T ruckee, CA. He was hospitalized for one night for surgery on a fractured kneecap .

Incident on Aug 19, 1993 (fatal): Employee struck and killed by truck backing up

Employee #1 pulled his pickup truck to the side of I-5 northbound and parked the vehicle. He stepped out of his vehicle and, for some unknown reason, stepped in to the path of a construction vehicle that was backing up. The construction vehi cle was a 1989 white, 3-axle special construction slurry rig loaded with sand an d water. The vehicle had a back-up alarm, though it may not have been loud enoug h to be heard over the surrounding noise. It is unknown if Employee #1 could hea r the back-up alarm. Employee #1 was killed when the construction vehicle ran ov er him.

Incident on Feb 15, 1992: Employee collapses after acute overexposure to naphtha

Employee #1 was cleaning the inside of blower fan ducts at Webster/Alameda Porta l of Oakland-Alameda Tube using Chevron 350-B solvent applied to the duct wall w ith a Hudson sprayer. The fan damper was closed, creating a confined space. Beca use of an excursion exposure to undetermined vapor concentration of petroleum di stillate (naphtha), she collapsed and had to be rescued.

Incident on Feb 21, 1991: Employee injures back in same level fall on roadway

At approximately 5:30 a.m. on February 21, 1991, Employee #1 was carrying her ca sh tray to her assigned tollbooth located at the opposite side of a construction zone. While walking around a steel stack that was blocking her path, Employee # 1 fell to roadway and injured her back. She was immediately transported to St. R ose Hospital for evaluation and treatment, and was then sent home. Employee #1 c ontinued to receive care on an outpatient basis and had not returned to work as of April 1, 1991. Causal factors involved in this accident include a blocked ais le and poor illumination.