On October 19, 1999, a heavy equipment operator was crushed after being ejected from the operator's compartment of a front-end loader when it went off a road and began rolling down a slope. The operator (the victim) was driving to a logging camp from a work site. Tracks on the road indicated that the loader moved to the edge of the road, went down the slope, rolled over, and ejected the victim from the operator's compartment. The victim was crushed beneath the loader. A log truck driver saw the loader on the slope and radioed the camp manager to report the loader's location and possible injury since he did not see the operator. The driver found the victim approximately 100 feet down slope from the road. Alaska State Troopers were notified, and the victim was declared dead at the scene. Based on the findings of the investigation, to prevent similar occurrences, employers should: (1) Ensure that all machinery is inspected and repaired prior to use and that employees not use equipment and motorized vehicles that are not in serviceable condition; (2) Ensure that all brakes on motorized vehicles and equipment are functional and capable of stopping the equipment while carrying the manufacturer's maximum recommended load; (3) Ensure that all motorized vehicles are equipped with functional seatbelts and that seatbelts are inspected on a regular basis; (4) Ensure that inspection, maintenance and repair records are maintained on site and are kept up to date.
Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report for Alaska: Heavy Equipment Operator Killed During Rollover of Front-End Loader
2000
6 pages
Report
No indication
English
Public Health & Industrial Medicine , Industrial Safety Engineering , Forestry , Occupational safety and health , Accident investigations , Fatalities , Forestry workers , Injuries , Equipment operators , Logging , Lumber industry , Rollover accidents , Work environment , Accident analysis , Safety equipment , Safety belts , Training , Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) , Front end loaders