OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #221622079
SMOLA TRANSIT, LLC
MEDFORD, WI·
Event description
Employee is killed when run over by log forwarder
Investigation abstract
On December 5, 2023, Employee #1, a truck driver, was in the process of model TF830D Forwarder by the infeed deck, approximately 180 feet east of the tractor-trailer and was using the forwarder's articulating grapple to load logs onto the forwarder bunk. While loading, the president observed Employee #1 and the vice president scaling by the tractor-trailer. After scaling, the vice president and Employee #1 walked approximately 30 feet north of the tractor-trailer to see around the office/breakroom building and look at the log yard approximately 300 feet to the northwest. Their aim was to determine which numbered row Employee #1 would unload his trailer into. They stopped, standing next to each other and facing away from the forwarder operations, about 11 feet southwest of some lumber stacks. At approximately 3:25 p.m., the president was transporting logs from the woods to a sawmill with a tractor-trailer. Employee enroute to the log yard to unload the logs in his bunk, when he took a wide right turn by the lumber stacks and ran over Employee #1 with the left rear tires of the forwarder. Employee #1 suffered full body trauma, resulting in his death. #1 arrived at the sawmill and parked his tractor-trailer in the scaling area which was adjacent and east of the sawmill office. Employee #1 stepped out of his truck wearing a black coat over a high visibility sweatshirt and began to take the load straps off the trailer. The vice president of the sawmill met Employee #1 by his tractor-trailer and started the scaling process with him, which involves walking around the trailer and measuring the logs with a tape measure. At this time, the president of the sawmill was operating a TimberPro
Victim
-
#1 Fatality Age 43 M
- Event type
- 2
- Occupation code
- 804
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