My first real jobsite accident in 30 years

[R James S]

I figured I'd post this here as it didn't really fit anywhere else but it should be a lesson on how no good deed goes unpunished.
Long story short, I just finished a pretty good sized addition which was 28 x 28 with a two car garage below and great room above. The owner asked me about two months before we started if I could put her 34 year old son on the payroll, I declined stating truthfully that I had a hard time keeping my own crew busy every week. A few days before we started she called and asked again, foolishly i agreed to put him on to clean up the jobsite and nothing more. Nothing serious could go wrong, right? We'll he decided to try and lower 7 wall brackets out the second story window on a rope, the brackets got stuck on the garage door trim and he leaned out to free them. He freed them but the force of the brackets breaking loose caused the rope which must have been tangled around him pulled him out the window 12' to the ground. He fortunately only gashed his head (14 staples). I called 911 and the ambulance came along with the police and fire department who called OSHA to report the accident. Osha came out and cited me for not having a 39" guardrail across the window opening which had a 36" high sill. They required me to hire a licensed company to clean up the one ounce of blood on the garage floor. They sent a crew of 3 and charged 285,/hr plus 20% O&P which came to 2500.00. Osha fined me 2800., I lost my 10% experience rating on my comp. plus all the down time dealing with the event. Thank god he is fine and was back at home (jobsite) that same day.
I guess I'm venting a bit while passing on a warning to everybody else here not to be the nice guy and only hire guys you feel comfortable with.
I'm contemplating not doing any more additions or work that carries any real risk and just concentrate on interior renovations. BTW, the Osha inspector was a pretty fair guy and the fine came from the central office not him personally. My big gripe is that after 30 years with no accidents other than guys cutting themselves with utility knifes and other minor scrapes and bruises you would think that would be a very good record that would merit a mulligan but I guess it doesn't work that way.
Ron

[parkwest]

You would think OSHA would focus on high accident/money industries like football or hockey... 14 stitches sounds like a typical hockey game.

[Dick Seibert]

I called 911 and the ambulance came along with the police and fire department who called OSHA to report the accident.

It's interesting that they called OSHA, was it the ambulance company, the police, or the fire department who called them and reported you?

In past years I used to take the injured workmen to the doctor or emergency room personally to avoid this kind of thing, and paid personally too. Now even if we take them we can't avoid filling out a report so they can fine us.

[MarkMc]

2800 doesn't seem too bad considering the potential for a far worse outcome. Ask the local guy, if you feel the rapport was there, if a class/training refresher would have any positive effect in lowering the fine. Same with your insurance.

[R James S]

The fire department makes the call as to calling or not calling, unfortunately my father in law was the fire chief for 23 years but retired 20 years ago.

[R James S]

2800 doesn't seem too bad considering the potential for a far worse outcome. Ask the local guy, if you feel the rapport was there, if a class/training refresher would have any positive effect in lowering the fine. Same with your insurance.

I agree, the outcome could have been far worse. I hadn't installed that one window so that I could boom in the blue board which I did the following day. A day late and 2800, dollars short.

[Dick Seibert]

Why was the fire department called anyway? In fact why were the police called? It seems an ambulance would be sufficient for an accident with no fire or criminal activity.

[philthegreek]

Dick,
Most places send all three these days. At the very least you get cops and bus. This is for residences, but does happen elsewhere too.
I had a severe allergic reaction during a zoning meeting. 8 people to get one guy in a bus to the ER. Seemed excessive.
Had another reaction at a relative's home in Maryland. They sent two ambulances. My first reaction was "what are ya gonna do, cut me in half?" then I refused transport after they started using high pressure sales tactics.
3 mile bus ride from the zoning meeting was just over $1200.

Phil

And to R James I would add no friends kids either. I feel your aggrivation.;-)

[Dick Seibert]

Phil:

Friday afternoon I was coming home and the freeway was backed up, I listened to the traffic report and they said there was a motorcycle down at Pleasanton, when I got there I saw three cop cars, two tow trucks, one with a crane lifting the bike onto the other, the rider was standing there apparently uninjured, there were also two fire trucks, sirens blaring, trying to get through traffic that got beyond me and had arrived before I did, along with an ambulance sitting there, at my age I could have put that bike up onto the truck bed myself. I realize that these guys have to justify their enormous salaries and pensions and have something to do, but this is ridiculous.

[dave_k]

They required me to hire a licensed company to clean up the one ounce of blood on the garage floor. They sent a crew of 3 and charged 285,/hr plus 20% O&P which came to 2500.00.

I can see the charge for the missing guard and the fine and hike in premium but the $2500 to clean up a bit of blood, heaven help you if they found raw chicken. A garden hose and a little bleach if you're OCD and you're done with it ... or better yet turn your back and let the neighbours dog loose. What a scam.

[miterme]

You have to recognize that when they are called, time is of the essence.
They cant send one rig out to "see whats going on" and then if needed call for more assistance.

[Mbeezo]

here it is often the police, fire truck and ambulance that show up. I had heard in our little town that the probility of someone having a piece of equipment that was needed was the reason, kind of a back up system. Plus our firefighters are also EMS or many of them are so whoever gets there first starts taking care of issues.
I do agree that it does look kind of bogus when you see 8 or 10 guys standing around and 2 guys working on a person, especially when the other 8 start joking around and goofing off. At least look interested in what is going on if you are going to be there.

I would be worried you are not out of the woods yet with the injury. I am seeing someone coming after you for a neck injury that is going to last a lifetime and you are going to be paying for it from now on.

[jimAKAblue]

Mr Clown Trump was spot on! He just wants to see what Obama wrote on his college application for place of birth.

Clowns can get it right too eh? Bozo wasn't as dumb as he looked.

[parkwest]

I can see the charge for the missing guard and the fine and hike in premium but the $2500 to clean up a bit of blood, heaven help you if they found raw chicken. A garden hose and a little bleach if you're OCD and you're done with it ... or better yet turn your back and let the neighbours dog loose. What a scam.

It used to be the gov't prosecutor had to convince a jury of your "peers" of criminal intent before taking possession of a man's property, now with this new fines system, you don't even see a jury, the gov't (ie. beneficiary of the fine) has now become the jury.

And the sheeple see nothing wrong with this.

[MarkMc]

I realize that these guys have to justify their enormous salaries and pensions and have something to do, but this is ridiculous.

It's CA Dick; there's likely to be 3 more rubber neck incidents inside a 1/2 mile by the time they get there so may as well have the horse power to cope esp on a Friday afternoon. What was the [air] temp? 68° within and hour of sunset gets two units [mix and match] with another for each 6.8° increase or 13.6° decrease.