On December 7, 2004, a 43-year-old male airport ramp worker (the victim) was fatally injured after being struck by a deicing truck while walking across the area around an airport terminal where aircraft are loaded and unloaded (apron). The deicing truck was being driven by a co-worker across the apron from the airlines gate area to the hangar. The victim was struck by the right side of the deicing trucks bumper and was run over by the trucks right side front and rear wheels. Calls were placed to emergency medical services (EMS). EMS personnel arrived at the site to attend to the victim who was pronounced dead at the airport. The Massachusetts Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program concluded that to prevent similar occurrences in the future, employers should: (1) Purchase and use deicing equipment that does not obstruct the view of the vehicle operator while driving. (2) Designate pedestrian walkways within the airport apron for ground crew. (3) Prohibit employees from wearing loose hoods while working around moving vehicles and equipment on airport aprons. (4) Supply and ensure that employees wear appropriate personal protective equipment, such as the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) compliant high visibility safety apparel. (5) Ensure that their comprehensive written health and safety program includes specific training for deicing operators and workers on foot regarding areas around vehicles and equipment where operators would have obstructed views. Also, employers using deicing vehicles where operators have obstructed views while driving should: (6) Require a second employee to assist the vehicle operator during driving of the vehicle. (7) Consider installing after market devices (e.g., camera, radar, and sonar) on vehicles and equipment to help monitor the presence of workers on foot. In addition, manufacturers of aircraft deicing equipment and vehicles should: (8) Design equipment such that the operators view is not obstructed while driving. (9) Explore the possibility of incorporating new monitoring technology (e.g., radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and tag readers) on equipment to help monitor the presence of workers on foot and in blind areas.


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    Title :

    Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) for Massachusetts: Airport Ramp Worker Dies after Being Struck by a Deicing Truck


    Publication date :

    2007


    Size :

    12 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English