Construction Worker Crushed

A construction worker was killed when a skid-steer loader crushed him against a dump truck.

The loader operator didn’t know the dump truck had returned to the site. When the loader backed up, the victim had his back to it since he and another worker were locking down the dump truck’s tailgate. The other worker had stepped aside, but the victim was struck from behind and crushed between the backs of the loader and truck. He staggered clutching his abdomen, fell and died shortly after from severe internal injuries.

Remember that skid-steer loaders move quickly in all directions, and have large blind spots at the rear. Investigators said each worker present could have prevented this accident by communication, caution and alertness. They recommended back-up alarms with variable intensity sound, directed toward the rear, be installed on all skid-steer loaders. Back-up alarms should be 10-15 decibels above the background noise.

Is your machine’s muffler well maintained? If not, equipment noise can also interfere with safety.