Fatal Accident Circumstances and Epidemiology (FACE) Report: Truck Driver Suffocates in Saw Dust Bin in Pennsylvania

摘要

A 22 year old self employed truck driver had an agreement with a local sawmill to remove sawdust from the facility on a regular basis. On the day of the accident, he drove his truck underneath the auger that dispensed the sawdust. This auger was mounted 5 feet above ground level on the side of the sawdust bin. When the driver turned the auger on, very little sawdust came out. After turning off the auger, the victim entered the sawdust bin from a height of 22 feet with a pole which he frequently used to knock the sawdust from the walls and into the auger path. He did not attach a safety line even though one was provided at the entry to the bin. He was working in the bin when the sawdust under him gave way and he was buried. Two hours passed before the accident was noticed.