On September 23, 2004, a 50-year-old log truck driver was killed in a mill yard when he was crushed against his load of logs by a front-end loader. The log truck was being unloaded at 6:35 a.m., shortly after the mill yard opened. The loader operator assumed the driver was in the cab of his truck, because he did not see him, and it appeared the middle two wrappers on the load had been removed already. According to standard procedure, the loader moved forward to secure the load of logs to allow the driver to safely remove the last two wrappers. A second loader operator working in the yard at the time saw a hard hat on the ground near the truck, and radioed to the first operator to back away. The victim was found dead at the scene, having been crushed between the loader and the load of logs. This stock photo shows the general position of the log truck driver in this incident as a front-end loader at the mill yard approached the load. Cause of death: Traumatic asphyxiation. Recommendations are: (1) Eye contact and a designated 'ready' signal must be established between a mobile machinery operator and a truck driver working together to load or unload a truck; (2) Regular safety training and retraining should occur in a hazardous work environment; (3) A site hazard assessment should include a documented job safety analysis and disciplinary process.
Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report for Oregon: Truck Driver Crushed by Front-End Loader in Mill Yard
2006
4 pages
Report
No indication
English