Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) for Wisconsin: Youth Farm Worker Pinned Under Overturned Horse-Drawn Manure Sled

摘要

A 16-year-old male farm worker (the victim) died when a horse-drawn sled loaded with manure overturned on him. The victim had driven the horses with the sled to a snow-covered hillside about a half-mile from the farmstead to spread the load of cow and horse manure. He was in the wooden box that was piled high with manure, using a pitchfork to throw it out the back of the box. The long rectangular box sat on the cross braces attached to the sled runners. Wooden dowels projected up from the cross braces and through the bottom of the box to prevent the box from shifting side-to-side. Apparently, the box tipped sideways off the runners, trapping the victim under the load and the box. When the horses returned to the farmstead pulling the sled runners, the victim's family went to the field and found him under the box. They removed the box and went to a neighbor's house to contact authorities. The coroner, EMS and sheriff responded. The coroner pronounced the victim dead at the scene. The FACE investigator concluded that, to prevent similar occurrences, farmers who use box sleds should: (1) Design and build the sled box with secure attachments to the runners. (2) Ensure the loaded sled box maintains a low center of gravity.