Falling Bricks Land on Backhoe

A demolition project went terribly wrong when brick and wood fell several stories to land on the cab of a backhoe. The operator was crushed to death.

He had been cleaning up the rubble around the old mill building when the upper floor collapsed onto the backhoe. The steel roof and door of the cab were smashed and the driver was trapped inside. Cause of death was massive injuries to the head and chest. Firefighters had to use heavy-duty steel cutters to remove the body.

Overhead hazards are present in just about any work environment, but few are as dramatic as this. Always be aware of dangers around you and above you. Demolition, like construction, must be carefully planned so workers are not put at risk by unsafe conditions. Know the hazards of each stage of any job you do.