Car Wash Technician Falls from Ladder

Two technicians were replacing an overhead dryer motor in a carwash.  A worker was carrying a component of the dryer while climbing a ladder. The ladder shifted and the technician fell approximately 4 feet landing on his back and right arm. The injured worker was transported to hospital by ambulance where his arm was placed in a sling and then was released from hospital. The injury did result in a lost time.

What can we learn from this event?

 Critical Procedures Must be Followed

  • Safe work procedures were not followed. There was a lifting device available which could have been used instead of the technician carrying the heater component up the ladder. Procedures need to be available and used when installing equipment and working from heights. Ladder procedures were also not followed.

Working from heights

  • When working at or above 1.5 m (5 ft) working from heights critical procedures must be followed at all times.
  • 3 point contact must always be maintained when using a ladder.
  • Using a ladder for work at or above 1.5 m (5 ft) requires a spotter.
  • Use appropriate lifting devices when positioning equipment for overhead work.
  • No job is so routine or urgent that it can’t be completed safely using the critical safety procedures we have in place.
  • By reducing our tolerance to risk all injuries can be prevented.

Fall from ladder