Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report for Washington State: Utility Construction Supervisor Killed When Struck by a Pickup Truck at a Work Zone

摘要

On June 10, 2002, a 49-year old male utility construction supervisor was killed and a fellow utility worker was seriously injured when they were struck by a motorist who drove a small pick-up truck into their work zone situated along a busy city street. The victim and the co-worker were working in a narrow, 2 12 foot deep trench and were in the process of installing a natural gas line connection to a commercial building. The victim and his co-worker were just in the process of exiting the trench when the victim was struck and killed, and the co-worker was seriously injured, when the pick up drove straight into the trench and then crashed into the back of a parked dump truck located on the opposite side of the trench. The foreman (the fatal victim) was airlifted to an area trauma center where he died of his injuries an hour later. The co-worker was transported to a local medical facility with serious head and face injuries. To prevent similar occurrences in the future, the Washington State Fatality Assessment & Control Evaluation (FACE) investigative team concluded that employers engaged in roadway construction, maintenance, or utility operations should follow these guidelines: (1) Contractors and subcontractors should conduct site-specific hazard assessments and develop plans to control or eliminate the hazards. (2) Employers should use positive protective barriers to shield workers from intruding vehicles. (3) Conduct pre-construction safety meetings to discuss potential work zone hazards and appropriate control measures. (4) Use safety hierarchy principles to reduce exposure by rerouting traffic, closing down a lane, or instituting a complete street closure. (5) Situate vehicles with flashing lights to act as a barricade to protect workers and to warn motorists of the work zone. (6) Explore using new mobile work zone protective devices.