Bulldozer Operator

Employee had worked an entire day operating a John Deere 750C Dozer along side another experienced dozer operator. At approximately 5:25pm the employee was last seen crossing over a dirt pile. A few minutes later that same employee saw the 750C dozer blade first in a ditch with the tracks still running and employee lying face up behind the machine.

Texto original en inglés de la MSHA

On April 24, 2014, James Gibson III, contract Dozer Operator, age 50, was killed when the dozer he was operating went out of control, traveled over a five foot windrowed berm, and went into a drainage canal. Gibson was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the operator’s seat and ejected from the cab into the dozer’s upright exhaust pipe. He landed on the ground, five feet behind the dozer. The accident occurred due to contractor management’s failure to ensure that the victim maintain control of the dozer at all times while he was operating it. Additionally, contractor management did not ensure that the victim wear a seat belt at all times while operating the dozer.

1. Contractor management did not ensure that the victim maintained control of the dozer at all times.

   Acción correctiva: Contractor management established procedures to ensure that mobile equipment operators maintain control of dozers at all times while operating them in the pit. The procedures require that dozer operators do not use higher speed transmission settings within the pit thus restricting their speed. The dozers are now restricted from traveling directly over the berms. All mobile equipment operators were trained regarding the new procedures.

2. Contractor management policies, procedures, and controls did not ensure the victim wore his seat belt when operating the dozer.

   Acción correctiva: Contractor management developed a new policy regarding requiring the use of seat belts. All mobile equipment operators received additional training regarding the required use of seat belts when operating mobile equipment. Contract management will monitor all equipment operators, including dozer operators, to ensure seat belts are worn.

Hallazgos del informe final de investigación de la MSHA, que sustituye la narrativa preliminar anterior.

Actividad al momento del incidente

Bulldozer

Subunidad / ubicación

STRIP, QUARY, OPEN PIT

Tipo de accidente

Golpeado contra un objeto fijo

Fuente de la lesión

GROUND

Naturaleza de la lesión

MULTIPLE INJURIES

Parte del cuerpo afectada

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Experiencia en este puesto

15 years

Grado de la lesión

FATALITY