MCM Construction Inc.: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Jul 25, 2013: Employee fractures metatarsal when boom drops

At approximately 7:30 a.m. on July 25, 2013, Employee #1, of MCM Construction, I nc., was disassembling the boom sections of a crane to alter the length of the b oom. The employee stood on the ground, inside of the boom framework, and drove t he bottom two pins holding two sections of the boom together, outward using a sl edgehammer. As the second pin was removed, the bottom of both boom sections drop ped to the ground, resulting in one of the sections striking Employee #1 and pin ning his left foot beneath the frame. The employer transported the employee to M ethodist Hospital, where he was admitted and underwent surgery to repair fractur es to the first, second, and third metatarsals. Employee #1 remained hospitalize d.

Incident on Jun 14, 2013: Employee is caught between trailer and truck, crushes leg

At approximately 12:55 p.m. on June 14, 2013, Employee #1 was preparing to conne ct a trailer to a truck. Employee #1 was standing between the front of a custom double axel trailer and the rear of a pick up truck. As Employee #1 was preparin g to connect the trailer to the truck, the supervisor was in the truck, backing it up to try to line up the truck's hitch with the tongue of the trailer. As the truck reversed, Employee #1's leg was crushed between the hitch of the truck an d the tongue of the trailer. Employee #1 was hospitalized suffering from fractur es and soft tissue damage to his left leg.

Incident on Nov 6, 2012: Maintenance worker catches on fire while arc cutting

At approximately 10:00 a.m. on November 6, 2012, Employee #1, a 35-year-old male temporary worker with Mcm Construction Inc., was working at a construction site in Long Beach, California. Employee #1 was attempting to remove and replace a b roken tooth on the digging bucket at the maintenance yard for the Schuyler Helm Bridge replacement project. Employee #1 was performing repair on the Shanks clam p pocket by using air arc to cut old metal off to put on a new pocket. Prior to this task, Employee #1 had worked on a hydraulic valve at different location, ab out a five- minute drive from the construction site. After the hydraulic valve t ask was completed, Employee #1 did not put the flammable solvent-Tech Brake Part s Cleaner- bucket away before starting the cutting, grinding, and welding task. Employee #1 kept the plastic bucket and some dirty rags at the work-bench on the back of the truck. The work-bench was about 3 ft. above the ground and 10 ft. a way from the cutting area. The grinding and cutting area was about 5 ft. above t he ground. While Employee #1 was using an air arc to cut the old metal off the p ocket, some sparks caught rags on fire behind the truck. Employee #1 pulled the rags underneath the bucket to put down the fire. The solvent splashed on his upp er body and caught him on fire. Employee #1 suffered second and third degree bur ns to 40-percent of his upper body. Employee #1 was transported to St. Mary Long Beach Hospital and later was transferred to UCLA Burn Center, where he was hosp italized and treated for three and a half weeks.

Incident on Mar 22, 2012: Employee suffers fall from a bridge

On March 22, 2012, Employee #1 while landing beams on the bridge for false work, unclipped his lanyard to unhook the crane. Employee #1 lost his balance and fel l 21 ft. Employee #1 was taken to the hospital for four days, then taken to a lo cal rehabilitation center for several weeks.

Incident on Feb 2, 2010: Employee falls from bridge deck, injures back

Employee #1, a foreman, was working at a construction site, demolishing a bridge . The project superintendent gave orders to start demolishing the bridge after t he asphalt was taken out. According to Employee #1, he inspected the harness and retractable lifeline prior to use. Employee #1 further stated that he had ancho red the retractable lifeline to an excavator. Another foreman stated he was anch ored on the bridge floor. While demolishing the bridge, Employee #1 fell. The pr oject superintendent saw Employee #1 hanging about 20 feet from the bottom of th e Louisiana River basin for about 3-5 seconds before Employee #1 fell to the bot tom. Employee #1 was taken to Cedar Sinai Hospital, Los Angeles and was hospital ized for back injuries. Employee #1 worked for MCM Construction, the General Con tractor of a bridge reconstruction project which is engaged in the demolition of an old bridge and erection of a new bridge.

Incident on Apr 1, 2009: Employee is injured when pinned between moving parts

At approximately 8:15 a.m. on April 1, 2009, Employee #1, a concrete pump operat or/oiler, was oiling the inside drive train of the FMC Link Belt crawler crane, Model Number B-310. During the oiling of the crane, Employee #1 was instructed b y the site Foreman to perform another task. After completing the secondary task, Employee #1 returned to finish oiling the crane; however, he did not notify the crane operator upon his return. Unaware that Employee #1 was working on the cra ne, the crane operator maneuvered the cab of the crane counterclockwise, pinning Employee #1's upper body between the undercarriage of the catwalk and its right side track. Employee #1 was taken to Highland Hospital, where he was hospitaliz ed and treated for lacerations to his face and back of his head, requiring sever al stitches and staples, as well as multiple fractured ribs.

Incident on Aug 18, 2008: Employee #1 fractures five ribs in fall from plank

On August 18, 2008, Employee #1 was walking across a 2 by 8 plank. When the plan k broke, Employee #1 fell 7 ft 10 in. He fractured his five ribs and was hospita lized for five days.

Incident on Jun 13, 2008: Employee suffers heat exhaustion operating crane

At approximately 3:30 p.m. on June 13, 2008, Employee #1, a new nonheat trained crane operator, became ill while working outdoors on a hot day. When cooling mea sures were ineffective, an ambulance was called, and he was transported, over an hour and a half later, to a hospital. He was diagnosed with dehydration and hea t exhaustion.

Incident on Jun 4, 2008: Employee's finger is caught in machinery and amputated

On June 4, 2008, Employee #1 was unhooking his fall protection to walk off the d rill rig when his hand was caught in the Kelly bar. Employee #1 sustained a part ial amputation of the left index finger and was hospitalized for two days.

Incident on Jun 26, 2008: Employee is injured in fall when bridge deck falls

At approximately 2:00 p.m. on June 26, 2008, Employee #1, a carpenter foreman, f ell 30 ft as the elevated form traveler on a 245 ft tall highway bridge, rolled off of the end of the supporting rails. He had earlier directed his crew to remo ve the safety stops on the rails that prevent over travel of the form. He was ho spitalized for several lumbar fractures as well as a fractured right ankle.

Incident on Dec 10, 2007: Employee injured when pinned between leads and driven pile

On December 10, 2007, Employee #1, a pile butt driver, was setting the leads for a batter pile when the signalman, who was standing on the north side of the lea ds, motioned to the crane operator to back up the crane to lay the leads back. E mployee #1 was on the south side, between the leads and the fifth driven pile. W hen the crane backed up, Employee #1 was still in this position when the crane b acked up. He became pinned between the leads and the driven pile, sustaining con tusions to his left hip. Employee #1 was transported to San Francisco General Ho spital, where he was treated and released that same day.

Incident on Jun 12, 2007: Employee severs big toe with chainsaw

On June 12, 2007, Employee #1 was cutting a stack of 2-inch by 6-inch pieces of wood with a chain saw. The chain saw kicked back and severed his right big toe. He was hospitalized for his injury.

Incident on Feb 23, 2007: Employee is injured when cranes tip over

On February 23, 2007, Employee #1 was part of a crew that was attempting a doubl e crane lift of a Bent-5 rebar column. Both cranes were hooked to the rebar colu mn during the lift. As the flexible rebar cage was lifted, the Manitowoc Model N umber 4100W signalman attempted to relieve the side loading of the Manitowoc 410 0 by crawling the Link-Belt Model Number LS-338 crane forward. As the column was being raised into a vertical position, the bottom of the rebar column touched t he ground. As it touched the ground, the flexible rebar cage bowed outward and a way from the cranes, increasing the radius of the load. In response, the signalm an for the LS-338 instructed the operator of the LS-338 crane to lower the hook, while at the same time, the Manitowoc 4100W signalman instructed the operator o f the Manitowoc 4100W to raise the load. As the load cleared the ground, it swun g approximately 20 feet away from the LS-338 crane, due to the existing side loa d, increasing the load radius yet again. The momentum of 86,000 pounds of rebar and rigging, swinging away from both cranes, exceeded the safe working load of b oth cranes, causing both cranes to overturn. Employee #1 sustained bruises and a brasions and was hospitalized.

Incident on Jan 16, 2007: Employee fractures foot when crane overturns

At approximately 10:45 a.m. on January 16 2007, Employee #1, a crane operator, b acked the crane, a Grove Model Number RT-760 mobile crane, down an access road a nd apparently lost control. The crane struck a small dirt embankment and tipped over with Employee #1 inside. Employee #1 received a fracture to his left foot w hen it was trapped between the cab and the ground. The crane was not carrying a load at the time. It was being moved into position for a lift. No safety deficie ncies were observed on the crane. Employee #1 was NCCO-certified and had 20 year s experience.

Incident on Dec 28, 2006: Employee is injured in fall from ladder

At approximately 10:10 a.m. on December 28, 2006, Employee #1, a construction wo rker who was installing exterior siding and door trims, was working with a cowor ker below the balcony of a building. He was standing on a ladder, handing a piec e of wood to his coworker, when he lost his balance and fell to the ground. He s ustained a right femur fracture and was hospitalized for his injury.

Incident on Aug 24, 2006: Employee is injured using radial saw

At approximately 3:00 p.m. on August 24, 2006, Employee #1 was operating a radia l arm saw, a 16-in., Original, Model Number 3551, Serial Number 87080014. The sa w blade was stationary during the wood cutting operation and was not being pulle d as a horizontal pull saw. Employee #1 was pushing a piece of plywood sheet, 2 ft by 4 ft by 0.375-in., by holding one side with his left hand and pushing it w ith a stick with his right hand to cut it into 5.25-in. wide strips. A piece kic ked back striking his right gloved hand, sustaining a deep laceration and a frac ture of his right thumb. Employee #1 was hospitalized.

Incident on Sep 15, 2006: Employee is burned by can of lubricant that was ignited

At approximately 9:15 a.m. on September 15, 2006, Employee #1 was torch cutting metal pilings from the basket of a manlift, when a hole developed in a can of fl ammable spray lubricant that the employee was unaware was in the lift. The erupt ing spray coated the employee, ignited, and burned him. He suffered second- and third-degree burns to multiple body parts and was hospitalized for three days.

Incident on Jul 7, 2006: Employee is injured when struck by board

At approximately 10:00 a.m. on July 7, 2006, Employee #1 was a truck driver empl oyed by MCM Construction, Incorporated. He was trying to dislodge a rock that wa s wedged between the dual tires of a water truck, 1995 Ford, Model Number F800. Employee #1 placed a 2-in. by 4-in. board under the rock stuck between the tires . He backed away and signaled another truck driver to drive the truck forward. W hen the truck was driven forward, the interior tire exploded and propelled the b oard toward Employee #1. He was injured when the board struck his leg. He was ho spitalized at Loma Linda University Medical Center, for a fractured leg.

Incident on Aug 16, 2005: Employee is struck by falling object and is injured

Employee #1 works for a company that was removing a bridge to rebuild a new brid ge in its place. Employee #1 was employed as a pile driver journeyman. Employee #1 was helping cut the old bridge frame into pieces. Employee #1 was working nea r another employee who was also cutting the bridge frame into pieces. The other employee cut a piece of bridge frame off. This piece of metal struck Employee #1 . The piece of metal was estimated to weigh approximately 500 pounds. Employee # 1 was hospitalized for head and shoulder injuries.

Incident on May 10, 2004: Employee amputates thumb in skilsaw

On May 10, 2004, an employee, a pile driver with MCM Construction was cutting su pport timber at a bridge spanning the Yolo Barge Canal on Jefferson Blvd. He pos itioned a 4-in. by 8-in. timber on the bridge so he could make a 60 degree angle cut. He positioned the saw on the line and holding the saw with his right hand, used his left hand to hold the bottom blade guard open and started the saw. Som ething caused his left hand to slip off the saw guard knob and his thumb fell in to the moving blade. The result was a diagonal cut across the tip of his left th umb with the amputated piece apparently falling into the canal. Since the site s uperintendent was not on-site, the injured party was not sure what the company's procedure was and decided to wrap his hand and taking his son traveled to Docto r's Medical Center in Modesto. The employee was hospitalized for two day.

Incident on Sep 8, 2003: Employee is injured while operating nail gun

On September 8, 2003, Employee #1 was conducting form work for a bridge construc tion project using an air-powered nail gun to nail a joist in place. He shot thr ough a 2-inch by 4-inch piece of wood where a knot was located. For some reason, a malfunction occurred and the gun punctured Employee #1's right hand. Employee #1 was hospitalized and treated for injuries sustained.

Incident on Apr 24, 2003: Employee injured when struck by falsework

On April 24, 2003, Employee #1, a falsework bent positioner, was involved with t he construction of an elevated roadway. A Link Belt lattice boom crawler crane w as lifting and substantially positioning a bent that weighed several thousand po unds. Employee #1was standing about 1.5 ft from the bent bottom, and pushing one end of the bent about eight ft from the bent end with his extended arms, with h is forehead at the same level as the bottom of the bent. The crane operator lowe red the suspended bent about one foot to allow Employee #1's arm to extend horiz ontally without an upward pitch, and thus be in a more favorable position to man euver the heavy metal bent. The bent moved toward the employee and struck his fo rehead. Employee #1 was hospitalized with vertebrae and disc injuries to his nec k and back.

Incident on Nov 15, 1999: Employee's leg injured when struck by falling beams and wood

Employee #1 was retrieving some 2 by 4 boards for a bridge project. He went to t he wood storage area on the west side of the bridge construction. The boards wer e banded together and some steel beams were stored on top of them. Employee #1 c ut the steel bands holding the lumber together and began to pull boards from the bottom of the approximately 6 ft tall stack. He had removed several boards when the stack collapsed. The steel beams and wood lumber struck Employee #1's left leg, fracturing it.

Incident on Dec 22, 1998: Employee's foot lacerated when portable saw kicks back

Employee #1 was using a portable power saw to cut lumber when the saw kicked bac k. The blade struck the top of her boot, lacerating her foot. The saw was equipp ed with a guard.

Incident on May 22, 1998: Employee's leg punctured by nail gun

On May 22, 1998, Employee #1, who worked as a laborer, was involved in building a decking panel. When Employee #1 walked to a new location with the assembly are a, he was carrying a 16-penny nail gun, Porter Cable, Model FC 350, Type 2, Seri al Number 024937. Employee #1 pulled the trigger while the nail gun muzzle was i n contact with his left leg above the knee. His leg was punctured by a 16-penny nail. Employee #1 was hospitalized. The work surface Employee #1 was walking upo n was paved, level concrete, and without depressions. Another employee working n ext to Employee #1 didn't see him trip. The nail gun had the required safety dev ice on the muzzle.

Incident on Jan 13, 1998 (fatal): One employee killed, two injured, when building collapses

Employees #1 through #3 were assigned to level and finish the installation of fa lse work at a construction site. They were under a main beam, using a 12 ton jac k to raise the structure, when the building collapsed on them. Employee #1 was k illed; Employee #2 fractured three ribs and sustained a serious chest contusion; and Employee #3 sustained minor injuries to his left hand and returned to work after three days. The accident was caused either by failure of the jack casing o r by disintegration of the base wood.

Incident on Oct 22, 1997: Employee injured in fall from bridge

Employee #1 was working on a bridge under construction when he stepped onto a 5 1/2 in. by 30 in. unsecured piece of metal decking and fell from the bridge. He sustained injuries, but was not hospitalized.

Incident on Sep 20, 1996: Two employees injured in fall from bridge support beam

At approximately 12:50 p.m. on September 20, 1996, Employees #1 and #2 of MCM Co nstruction, Inc., were on a shoring support beam about 27 ft above hard-packed e arth. They were installing shoring for the construction of a highway bridge. The crane operator swung a sling and spreader bar assembly toward them. As he reach ed for the assembly, Employee #1 lost his balance; he then reached back and grab bed Employee #2, causing both of them to fall. Employee #1 fell to the ground; h e was wearing a full body harness, but the shock-absorbing lanyard was not attac hed to an anchor point. Employee #2, who was wearing a safety belt with a 12 ft long by 3/8 in. diameter wire rope lanyard, fell 10 ft. Paramedics were called a nd both employees were transported to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. Empl oyee #2 was released at 4:30 p.m.; Employee #1 was hospitalized for treatment of multiple fractures.

Incident on Aug 2, 1993: Electric shock - contact with overhead line thru boom

A heavy equipment operator-oiler was assigned to a 45-ton crane by a job superin tendent. After she had been working for 5 hours, and just before lunch break, th e operator of the Linkbelt hydraulic truck crane (No. M.C.M. B-146) requested th at hydraulic oil be cleaned from the deck. After lunch, the oiler was near the b ase of the crane when the boom contacted a 115-kilovolt overhead power line. The oiler received an electric shock and sustained first, second, and third degree burns to the lower 60 percent of her body. There were no first aid supplies at t he jobsite; and the injured employee was transported to the emergency room at a hospital, arriving about 30 minutes after the accident. After her condition was stabilized, she was moved to a burn center, where she was hospitalized for her i njuries.

Incident on Jun 12, 1992 (fatal): Apprentice carpenter killed by collapsing falsework

Employee #1, an apprentice carpenter, was removing falsework from underneath a f reeway connector under construction. The falsework consisted of wooden forms res ting on loose steel beams which were resting on vertical steel structures called bents. During this operation, while the bents are being lowered so that the bea ms can be removed, the wire rope guy lines that act as braces should be kept tig ht. On this day, the carpenters removed all the wire rope guys on one side of th e beam and loosened all the guys on the other side of the beam. The whole struct ure collapsed domino style, and a 36 ft beam crushed and killed Employee #1. A q ualified supervisor was not at the job site.

Incident on Apr 27, 1992 (fatal): Employees killed when struck by drunken driver

At about 6:10 p.m. on April 27, 1992, Employees #1 and #2 were putting up traffi c warning signs on a southbound lane of the Long Beach Freeway. They were near t heir pickup truck, which was parked on the highway's left shoulder. A drunk driv er, who hazardously changed lanes, crashed his Ford Bronco into the parked truck , striking Employees #1 and #2. Employee #1 was killed instantly; Employee #2 di ed approximately two hours later. The drunk driver was cited by the California H ighway Patrol. No T8CCR violations were observed.

Incident on Oct 10, 1990: Four employees injured in fall when road falsework collapses

At approximately 1:20 a.m. on October 10, 1990, Employees #1 through #4 were ere cting steel pipe falsework for an elevated cast-in-place concrete road structure . Employee #3 was inspecting the strap supporting the 60 ft horizontal beam when the previously installed wood and beams suddenly collapsed. Employees #1, #2, a nd #3 fell 45 ft to the ground. Employee #1 was hospitalized with a fractured pe lvis and left elbow. Employee #2 was hospitalized with four fractured ribs and a fractured left leg, a punctured lung, and a concussion. Employee #3 was hospita lized for 24 hours for observation. Employee #4 was treated at the hospital for a lacerated arm and then released.

Incident on Jan 17, 1989 (fatal): Employee killed in fall from 15 in. wide bridge beam

Employee #1 was walking on an overhead steel bridge beam 15 in. in diameter and 45 to 50 ft high when he lost his balance and fell to his death. The only witnes s to the accident said Employee #1 had crossed over from the #3 steel beam to th e #2 steel beam on frame 594, north side. Employee #1 appeared to be losing his balance and then he was gone. The witness said that he was too far away to help. He also said that no safety belt and lanyard or safety nets were being used. Th e witness said that the use of safety nets had been discussed among the employee s but had never been mentioned in meetings with management.

Incident on Jan 17, 1989 (fatal): Employee killed in fall from 15 in. wide bridge beam

Employee #1 was walking on an overhead steel bridge beam 15 in. in diameter and 45 to 50 ft high when he lost his balance and fell to his death. The only witnes s to the accident said Employee #1 had crossed over from the #3 steel beam to th e #2 steel beam on frame 594, north side. Employee #1 appeared to be losing his balance and then he was gone. The witness said that he was too far away to help. He also said that no safety belt and lanyard or safety nets were being used. Th e witness said that the use of safety nets had been discussed among the employee s but had never been mentioned in meetings with management.