Sma Builders, Inc.: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Jan 25, 2002: Employee injured in fall from scaffold

On January 25, 2002, Employee #1, a carpenter with SMA Builders, Inc., was worki ng on a 12- to 14-ft-high shop-built platform/scaffold without guard rails at a home construction site. As he attempting to pull a nail, he lost his balance and fell, striking a concrete block wall. He was hospitalized with a fractured righ t femur, and subsequently required a splenectomy due to intraperitoneal bleeding .

Incident on Sep 2, 1999: Employee's finger amputated while using saw

Employee #1 was working at a construction site as a carpenter. He was in the pro cess of cutting 1.5 feet off the end of an 8 foot long piece of a 2 by 4. He was holding the saw with his left hand and holding the piece of wood with his right hand. One end of the wood was resting on the floor. He had cut about six pieces , equal in size, using the same saw. He was cutting the pieces to be used in a c orner section on the second floor of the house under construction. According to Employee #1, the accident occurred when he was in the process of cutting. The wo od broke open, causing the saw to slip. The blade came in contact with his hand, resulting in the amputation of his right middle finger below the second knuckle and damaging nerves in his ring finger. Another employee took Employee #1 to Sh erman Oaks Hospital. He was transferred to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center where he had surgery and was hospitalized for three days.