Rotating Digger Catches Worker

A crew was digging a small tunnel under a driveway using a horizontal boring machine in preparation for installing an underground telephone cable. The rod had been removed from the hole. While it was still rotating, the operator straddled it and leaned over to pick it up. His trouser leg became caught in the rotating rod and he was flipped over. He received fatal injuries when he struck materials and tools in the area. The victim had been doing this type of work in telephone line installation for 10 years.

No matter how experienced a worker may be, he or she is still vulnerable to the hazards of rotating equipment. Anyone can be killed from getting tangled in moving machinery. To avoid a fatal incident such as this, make sure machinery has guards in place to prevent contact with rotating components. Do not wear loose-fitting clothing and never step over rotating equipment.