Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report for Iowa: 12 Year Old Boy Dies From a Tractor Rollover in a Roadside Ditch

摘要

A 12 year old boy working part-time for a farmer was killed when he lost control and overturned a tractor in a 12 foot deep roadside ditch. The victim was driving downhill on a slightly sloping gravel road, came to the bottom of the hill, and approached an uphill. At this point the road had a culvert and deep ditches dropping off sharply at the edge of the road. For some reason the boy drove too close to the right edge and fell into the ditch causing the tractor to roll completely. The tractor was approximately 10 years old and had no ROPS or seatbelt. The tractor was pulling an empty feed wagon which sheared off at the hitch and was also pulled into the ditch, however, did not overturn. The boy was crushed under the left rear wheel and fender of the tractor and died from asphyxiation due to crush injury. There were no obvious environmental factors contributing to the incident, nor failure of the equipment. However, the tractors seat was adjusted in the back position, making the distance from the seat to the brakes too long for this driver. The loader frame may have obstructed the drivers view of the front wheels making it difficult to see the exact position of the front wheel and the edge of the road. Recommendations based on our investigation are as follows: (1) All tractors used in hazardous conditions should be equipped with ROPS and a seatbelt. The hazardous conditions in this case include an inexperienced driver driving on a public road and having a front end loader on the tractor. (2) Employers should comply with child labor laws regarding agricultural work declared hazardous by the Secretary of Labor. (3) Employers should ensure that the machinery is in safe working condition and adjusted to meet the physical requirements of the operator. (4) Employers should provide appropriate safety education and supervision for the employees.