Sigmon Construction, Inc.: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Apr 2, 2002 (fatal): Employee killed by collapsing masonry header

At 10:00 a.m. on April 6, 2002, Employee #1 and Employee #2 were engaged in the demolition of a masonry wall, part of a remodeling project. The free standing ma sonry wall had been removed block by block with the exception of a left side col umn, consisting of 13 8-inch masonry blocks, a bonded header (approximate weight of 1,100 pounds), and right side exterior masonry wall. Employee #1 was on the ground working with a long-handle 10-pound sledgehammer to the left of the free standing wall, while Employee #2 was working from a 24-foot aluminum extension l adder with a 2-pound sledge hammer to break loose the concrete masonry blocks. T he ladder was resting against the bonded header. Once Employee #2 had removed th e top section of blocks, the bonded header broke, causing the right side of maso nry blocks to collapse. Employee #2 was knocked off the ladder and fell approxim ately 8 feet, landing on his back. Simultaneously, the bonded header broke loose from the left side of masonry blocks, which then fell across Employee #2's body and face.