105,313Records 71,083Employers 85,290Hospitalizations 27,770Amputations 2015-01-01 2025-10-31
Safety Incidents OSHA Severe Injury Reports · 2015–2025

OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14278881

HEAD,WORK RULES,SEAT BELT,MECH MAT HANDLING,SLIPPERY SURFACE,STRUCK BY,BACKING UP,OVERTURN

Event
HEAD,WORK RULES,SEAT BELT,MECH MAT HANDLING,SLIPPERY SURFACE,STRUCK BY,BACKING UP,OVERTURN
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
14278881
Report ID
112000

Event description

EMPLOYEE KILLED WHEN SOD HANDLER OVERTURNED AND STRUCK HIM

Investigation abstract

EMPLOYEE #1, THE COMPANY OWNER, WAS BACKING A SPYDER SOD HANDLER DOWN A DRIVEWAY NOT POSSIBLE IT CAN BE DRIVEN BACKWARDS, BUT THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS SHOULD BE EXTENDED AND THE CASTERS LOCKED. EMPLOYEE #1 DID NOT EXTEND THE WHEEL CYLINDERS OR LOCK THE CASTERS. WHICH WAS INCLINED AND ELEVATED ABOVE THE SURROUNDING GROUND SURFACE. THE DRIVE WAY WAS ALSO WET AND HAD BEEN TREATED WITH JENNITE. THE SOD HANDLER SUDDENLY SKI DDED AND BEGAN TO VEER OFF THE DRIVEWAY. EMPLOYEE #1 JUMPED FROM THE MACHINE IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS IT WAS VEERING OFF THE DRIVEWAY. THE MACHINE STRUCK A TREE AND OVERTURNED ONTO EMPLOYEE #1. THE VEHICLE'S ROLL CAGE STRUCK HIM ON THE HEAD , KILLING HIM. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A SEAT BELT, BUT EMPLOYEE #1 DID NO T USE IT. THE OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE VEHICLE RECOMMEND THAT THAT IT BE D RIVEN FORWARDS WHEN TRAVELLING DOWNHILL. WHEN DRIVING IT FORWARD DOWN A HILL IS

Victim

  1. #1 Fatality Age 45 M

    Nature of injury
    21
    Part of body
    13
    Event type
    1
    Source
    27
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    6
    Task assigned
    1

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