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Truck driver run over by tractor-trailer at trash transfer station and dies in California
Full text linkA 43-year-old truck driver (decedent) died when he was run over by the rear wheels of the trailer of a tractor-trailer rig. The decedent's tractor-trailer rig had been loaded with trash to be transferred to a landfill. He had moved his rig to the scales to ensure the weight of the rig was appropriate. He moved his rig forward after weighing and got out of the cab. He had waved to a second tractor-trailer rig to indicate that it was okay to back into the trash pit. As he was walking near his rig the second tractor-trailer rig was backing up alongside. The decedent stepped too far away from his rig and was run over by the trailer of the backing rig. The backing rig's backup alarm, located on the tractor, was not functional. The trailer did not have a backup alarm. None of the three spotters on site were able to react in time to prevent the incident. The CA/FACE investigator determined that, in order to prevent future occurrences, employers should as part of their Illness and Injury Prevention Program (IIPP): 1. ensure no one walks near tractor-trailer rigs when they are moving in close quarters. 2. install backup alarms on the trailers of tractor-trailer rigs. 3. ensure pre-trip inspections include checking whether or not backup alarms are functional. 4. stop moving traffic when pedestrians enter an area of danger.Cooperative Agreemen
Fitter/welder is crushed between two pressure vessels and dies in California
Full text linkA 42-year-old male fitter/welder (decedent) died when he was crushed between a stationary pressure vessel (a type of unfired, cylindrical tank) and a pressure vessel that had tipped up. The decedent was on top of the pressure vessel that tipped while he was welding a seam on a manway (personnel hatch). The pressure vessel he was on was lying lengthwise cradled in devices called positioners. This pressure vessel suddenly tipped up. He was thrown off and crushed between the tipping pressure vessel and an adjacent pressure vessel. The pressure vessel that tipped had one of the two heads (a type of end cap) welded into place. It was heavy on that end and the positioner was placed so that any additional weight on that end would easily cause it to tip. The decedent was not safeguarded by fall protection. The CA/FACE investigator determined that, in order to prevent future occurrences, employers should as part of their Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP): 1. ensure employees place the positioners so that pressure vessels will not tip under minor, additional loads. 2. ensure employees use fall protection or an alternate means of access to work when working at heights. 3. develop a method for welding on shorter pressure vessels that reduces the possibility of tipping.Cooperative Agreemen
Three Oil Field Workers Died after Inhaling Carbon Monoxide Gas in an Oil Well cellar in California
Full text linkThree oil field workers died after breathing carbon monoxide (CO) gas in an oil well cellar. The incident occurred during perforation, a procedure to create holes in the pipe in the well to allow the well to be used for water disposal. During the procedure, water began flowing from a valve in the well cellar. No plan had been prepared for actions by the workers in the event that this occurred. The first worker (decedent #1), a 22-year-old male, entered the well cellar to turn off the valve. Upon entering the area, he collapsed and fell into the cellar. A second worker (decedent #2), a 24-year-old male entered the cellar to assist decedent #1 but was also overcome and collapsed. A third worker (decedent #3), a 26-year-old male, was overcome while kneeling near the opening to the cellar and also fell in. The decedents, all employed by a well maintenance contractor, were not wearing any personal protective equipment (PPE) at the time of the incident. No confined space atmospheric testing was performed prior to entry into the well space by any of the workers. Workers from another contractor, that was performing the well perforation, went into the cellar and pulled the decedents out when they saw what had happened. None of the rescuers wore any type of PPE nor was any available for their use at the incident site. Fire department paramedics arrived on the scene shortly after the incident occurred and pronounced decedent #2 dead at the scene. The other two victims were transported to the hospital where they both were later pronounced dead. Four additional workers were hospitalized but survived the incident. The CA/FACE investigator concluded that in order to prevent similar future occurrences, employers and contractors should: 1. ensure that their Injury and Illness Prevention Programs (IIPP) effectively address all the present and potential hazards of their employees' worksites. 2. test the atmosphere of confined spaces before any employees are allowed entry. 3. if feasible, ventilate confined spaces so that employees are not exposed to hazardous air contaminants. 4. insure employees are provided and wear approved respiratory equipment when entering confined spaces where there is the presence or suspicion of harmful mists, fumes, or gases, or oxygen deficiency. 5. insure employees are provided and wear approved safety harnesses and lifelines when entering confined spaces not kept safe through forced air ventilation. train employees in rescue operations so that in the event of an emergency, workers understand the risks and how to safely avoid them and should provide and keep available equipment for rescue operations.Cooperative Agreemen
A Construction Surveyor is Run Over by a Motor Grader That Was Backing Up
Full text linkA 32-year-old construction surveyor died when backed over by a motor grader. The victim was doing a grade check at the time of the incident. The grader operator was looking at the grade as he was backing. The back up warning device was working properly. The CA/FACE investigator determined that, in order to prevent future occurrences, employers, as part of their Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) should: 1. Ensure the present language in the company policy on working in close proximity to moving heavy equipment is adequate and applicable to all known situations and hazards. 2. Ensure employees are adequately trained and that workers' achievement of skills is verified through a testing program. 3. Consider using additional safety devices for heavy equipment to warn workers of a backing vehicle and to warn drivers when someone is in their blind spot. 4. Consider installing equipment on graders that would incorporate the use of a laser, GPS, or sonic guided grading system.Publication Date provided by FACE program; not printed on the report.Cooperative Agreemen
A Punch Press Operator Dies When Struck by a Piece of Metal in the Abdomen
Full text linkA 39-year-old male machine operator died when he was struck in the abdomen by a piece of metal that came from the punch press he was operating. The decedent was using the machine to center punch holes into metal plates when the incident occurred. The machine guarding was in place but was not properly adjusted. According to the owner of the company who witnessed the incident, the machine made a strange noise during the punch cycle just prior to the incident. The owner said he yelled at the decedent to stop when he heard the noise. The decedent looked at owner, bent over to look at the machine, then stepped on the machine pedal. This caused the punch to punch through a steel plate then engage the edge of the hole in the misaligned die. The hydraulic pressure on the punch finally forced the punch into the hole in the die. A half-moon shaped piece from the edge of the punch sheared off and shot out from underneath the steel plate striking the decedent in the abdomen. The machine manufacturer recommends documented scheduled maintenance on the machine, which the employer could not verify. The employer did not have a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program, or a documented training program for machine operators. The CA/FACE investigator determined that, in order to prevent future occurrences, employers, as part of their Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) should: 1. Provide a program of documented scheduled maintenance on the machine in accordance with the manufacturer\u2019s recommendations. 2. Provide a program of documented training and safe work practices.Publication Date provided by FACE program; not printed on the report.Cooperative Agreemen
Heavy equipment operator dies when excavator slips down a hill and becomes buried in mud in California
Full text linkA 39-year-old heavy equipment operator (decedent) died when his excavator slid over a hill and was buried in mud. The decedent was scooping mud from a desilting pond with the excavator bucket and placing the mud in a scraper/loader. He was working at the edge of a 20-foot embankment with his tracks parallel to the edge of the hill. The decedent had just dumped a load of mud into the scraper/loader. As he swung the bucket around to pick up another load of mud, the track of the excavator nearest the scraper/loader lifted off the ground. As the decedent was attempting to stabilize the excavator, it slid down the side of the hill and the cab side was buried in the mud. Before the heavy equipment operator could be extricated from the cab, he was suffocated by the mud. The CA/FACE investigator concluded that, in order to prevent future occurrences, employers should: 1. ensure when equipment operators are working at the edge of an embankment the tracks of their machine are placed a safe distance away from the edge. 2. implement a formal, written program that provides the correct procedure for operating an excavator.Cooperative Agreemen
Lineman Electrocuted by Contacting Energized 4160-Volt Power Line
Full text linkA 34-year-old male (victim) electric utility worker died after contacting an energized 4160-volt power line as he was attempting to replace a termination bracket bolt. The procedure took place within one foot of the energized wire, and the lineman was not wearing protective gloves. Earlier, he had had difficulty in handling a 1/4" bolt and had to descend from an aerial bucket to retrieve it from the ground after dropping it. The victim had appropriate personal protective equipment available (high voltage gloves, safety glasses, and hard hat). However, according to a coworker, he apparently removed the gloves in order to improve hand dexterity after re-ascending in the bucket. The coworker, acting as an observer, lowered the unconscious victim within one minute of hearing a zap and seeing the slumped, unresponsive figure. Emergency medical procedures (CPR and ACLS) were administered within the recommended time limits, but the victim was not resuscitated. MN FACE investigators concluded that, in order to prevent similar occurrences, the following safety guidelines should be followed: 1. Personal protective equipment, protective devices, and special tools provided for work should be used by employees. 2. Employees working in the vicinity of energized lines should consider the effects of their actions, taking into account their own safety as well as the safety of other employees on the job site. 3. When performing tasks requiring hand dexterity, protective equipment other than insulating gloves should be considered. 4. Use checklists prior to starting work to ensure use of proper safety procedures and equipment.Publication Date provided by FACE program; not printed on the report.Cooperative Agreemen
Electrocution in a Fast Food Restaurant
No full textA worker at a fast-food restaurant located in was fatally electrocuted while inserting an electrical plug into a power receptacle mounted in a floor box. The worker was an 18-year-old man employed part time at this site for the past 15 months. He was engaged at the time of the accident in operations for closing the restaurant at the end of the day. This routine called for him to unplug a piece of electrical equipment from the floor receptacle, move the equipment, which was mounted on wheels, and sweep and mop the floor. The equipment was then to be left unplugged till the following morning. He had completed his usual task and apparently was trying to reconnect the equipment. He was found face down with his right hand in contact with the plug and his face in contact with the electrical receptacle box. The author concludes that the fatality could have been prevented if a ground fault interrupter circuit breaker had been installed. The author recommends that ground fault interrupters be installed where applicable, and that floor mounted receptacles be reinstalled on a pedestal type mount to eliminate the possibility of water contacting the electrical system
Fatal Accident Summary Report: Struck and Crushed By a Backing Forklift While Cleaning Up an Auto Salvage Yard
No full textA laborer was killed by a forklift that was backing up while he was helping ready junk cars for crushing on July 26, 1984. The victim was working in an auto junk yard that was not his regular place of employment and no training had been provided for this job. The victim was throwing scrap metal into junk cars and a forklift which was transporting them to the crusher was working nearby. The victim was found by coworkers lying down with his skull crushed, with cigarettes and matches on the ground nearby. The forklift had an operational backup bell and limited rearward visibility. The victim was of small stature with some hearing loss in one ear. It was concluded that the lack of safety training, the limited rear visibility of the forklift, the possible inability of the victim to hear the backup bell, that fact that the victim may have been standing with his back to the forklift and lighting a cigarette, and that the forklift operator did not adequately observe what was behind him before backing up were all contributory factors to this accident
Farmer Youth Dies After Being Struck By A Loader Bucket
Full text linkA 17-year-old farm youth (victim) died of injuries sustained when he was struck by a bucket that fell from a front-end loader. On the day of the incident, the operator of a farm drove a tractor equipped with a front end loader to a farm site to haul some items. Shortly before the incident, the bucket was connected to a quick-connect coupling mechanism on the loader, but it was not secured in place with locking pins. After attaching the bucket, the farm operator drove the tractor between two farm sites. The victim apparently rode along on the tractor between the farm sites. When they arrived at the second farm site, they stopped at a closed farm gate and the victim got off the tractor and opened the gate. The operator drove the tractor through the opened gate and the victim closed it. The victim climbed into the bucket and the tractor operator raised the loader to a height of approximately five feet. The operator drove the tractor down a gravel driveway toward the farm site. It was not known how fast the tractor was driven down the gravel driveway. Along the way, the front wheels struck a bump that caused the loader to bounce and the bucket to unhook from the quick-connect mechanism. The victim fell from the bucket to the ground and was struck by the bucket as it fell to the ground. The tractor operator stopped and manually lifted the bucket from the victim. The operator drove back to the first farm site and placed a call to emergency medical personnel. They arrived shortly after being notified and pronounced the victim dead at the scene. MN FACE investigators concluded that to reduce the likelihood of similar occurrences, the following guidelines should be followed: 1. operators should never allow any passengers to ride along on equipment; and 2. all equipment locking devices should be properly installed before the equipment is used.Cooperative Agreemen