Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report for California: A Tractor Operator Dies When His Tractor Rolls Over on Him

摘要

A 69-year-old equipment operator died when the tractor he was operating rolled-over as he attempted to make a left turn at the bottom of a steep ravine he had just descended. The victim was clearing the land and doing site preparation for a future housing development and golf course. A witness to the incident saw the unbuckled victim standing at the operator controls just prior to it rolling over. The tractor was equipped with the required rollover protective structure (ROPS) and seat belt. The front of the tractor was equipped with a clamshell type bucket with a capacity of approximately five yards. The bucket was in a raised position when it rolled over. The employer had no written Injury and Illness Prevention Program, written job hazard evaluations, or documented training programs for employees at the time of the incident. The CA/FACE investigator determined that, in order to prevent future occurrences, employers, as part of their Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) should: (1) Ensure that employees, when operating equipment, wear the seatbelt that is required with the equipment; (2) Ensure operators are trained and skilled in safe work practices, especially maneuvers that adversely affect the center of gravity and increase the likelihood of a tractor rollover.