WARNING

Road Worker Hitches Ride
-- Run Over By Machine

In the summer of 1996, a 35-year-old construction worker died after being run over by an asphalt road-widening machine when it ran backwards over him. The man was part of a crew widening a state highway. His job was to walk to the side and rear of the road-widener, giving verbal instructions to the driver for the machine’s side-mounted spreader arm. This machine lays down two layers of asphalt, moving slowly forward for the first layer, then backing up to lay the second layer. After the first layer was applied, the victim apparently jumped on the side arm of the machine as it was backing up, slipped off and was run over by the right front tire. The machine weighed 40 tons and amputated his left leg and injured his hemipelvis. The man was flown to a regional hospital and had major complications of internal bleeding and cardiac arrest, and died nine days later. The man had been instructed not to ride on the side of the machine, but to climb on top if he wished to ride. Crew members reported the victim was overly-fatigued that day and perhaps not fit for work. The machine had a backup alarm which was operational at the time.

RECOMMENDATIONS

#1 Heavy equipment operators must always remain aware of the location of pedestrian workers.

#2 Operators must not permit riders on industrial equipment or vehicles not designed for passengers.

-- Machine operators and employees must be trained to recognize this specific hazard.

-- Machine operators must have necessary authority to enforce compliance with this policy.

#3 Employees exposed to heat stress should be given a period of acclimatization and given work / rest periods in accordance with recognized standards (ACGIH and NIOSH).

-- Fatigue and heat stress are common causes of injury, illness, and death at construction sites.

--Work conditions should be evaluated for temperature, humidity, strenuous work load, etc.

-- Workers need frequent breaks, increased water intake, proper clothing, and close supervision.

#4 Workers not fit for duty due to illness or fatigue should not be assigned to hazardous tasks.

-- Workers who are over fatigued, heat stressed, or ill may compromise the safety of others.