Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) for Colorado: Colorado Equipment Maintenance Laborer Dies When Crushed in Small Skid Steer Loader

摘要

On May 31, 1995, a 26-year-old male equipment maintenance laborer died from injuries sustained when he was crushed by the bucket of a small skid steer loader. The victim was standing in front of the machine below the raised bucket while pressure-washing the engine of the equipment. He had started the engine and raised the bucket to gain better access to the engine cavity. He left the engine running while he used a high-pressure sprayer to clean the equipment in preparation for painting. When the engine ignition system got wet, the loader engine stalled and the equipment lost hydraulic pressure. The bucket lowered, crushing the employee between it and the front frame of the machine. This skid steer loader was equipped with a roll-over protection system (ROPS) that had safety pins incorporated into the frame to prevent the bucket from lowering during maintenance. The employee had neglected to extend these pins prior to starting the cleaning process.