Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report for Nebraska: Construction Worker Caught Between Forklift and Cement Truck

摘要

A 71-year-old construction worker was killed when the forklift he had been operating rolled forward, pinning him against the rear of a cement truck. The victim had gone to the local redi-mix concrete company earlier that morning and had driven the full concrete truck to the job location. He positioned it in an alleyway behind and adjacent to the work site and walked across an adjoining roadway to where the forklift involved in the incident was parked. With the assistance of his supervisor (company owner), he attached a cement bucket onto the forks. The supervisor walked away towards his truck while the victim drove the forklift back across the street and parked it directly behind the cement truck. He then exited the forklift and stepped in between the forklift and concrete truck to adjust the concrete chute on the rear of the truck. The forklift rolled forward, pinning the victim's abdominal area between the concrete bucket and the extended rear platform of the truck. Two workers heard him scream and were able to push the forklift backwards off of the victim. The supervisor also heard the victim, ran to the scene and immediately provided first aid until the two workers took over. He then ran a short distance away where an ambulance was kept and brought it to the accident site. The victim was transported by the local rescue squad to a hospital 32 miles away where he was pronounced dead later that morning. The Nebraska Workforce Development, Department of Labor's Investigator concluded that to help prevent future similar occurrences, employers should: (1) Develop, implement and enforce a forklift training program for all employees that may operate such equipment. (2) Ensure that all equipment has an established maintenance program as recommended by the manufacturer. (3) Develop, implement and enforce a comprehensive safety program that includes, but is not limited to, training in all hazard recognition.