Accident Report Detail
Accident Summary Nr: 201080728 - EMPLOYEE CRUSHED BY THE EXTENSION MECHANISM OF A TRAILER
| Inspection Nr | Date Opened | SIC | NAICS | Establishment Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300795564 | 10/13/1997 | 2439 | 0 | Gang Nail Truss Co |
Abstract: On October 11, 1997, Employee #1 was attempting to extend a trailer to accommodate roof trusses. The trusses are carried on a 40-ft flatbed trailer, which could be extended or shortened, as needed for the load. After the trusses were loaded, Employee #1 determined that the trailer needed to be extended in order to safely handle the load. Two beams are attached to the rear of the trailer, and two beams are attached to the front of the trailer. These beams are designed to slide while lengthening or shortening the trailer, and are locked in place with pins while the trailer is in use. These pins are disengaged to change the length of the trailer. On this trailer, disengaging the pins is a manual operation, requiring that someone be under the trailer, near the rear wheels. On the date of this accident, the pins were sticking and would not release. Another employee obtained a forklift, and lifted the trailer to relieve some of the strain. Another employee climbed into the cab of the truck, to move it forward and backward to help relieve the pins. Employee #1 was lying underneath the trailer, applying pressure with his hands and arms to the lever that forces the pins to move. Normally, he would remain flat on the ground, and withdraw his hands when the pins release. However, apparently he needed more leverage to get the pins to release. He sat upright, which placed his head within the beams. There are two cross-members within a few feet of each other. One cross-member was welded to the beams from the front of the trailer, the other, welded to the beams from the back of the trailer. When the pins released, the truck pulled forward about 6 ft, and the front beam's cross-member came forward. The victim's head was caught between the front cross-member and the rear cross-member. Two accident-related violations were found. First, the accident was the result of an exposure to a pinch point action. In addition, the employer did not evaluate this hazard, and no procedures had been established to complete the work safely. This is a failure of their accident prevention program.
| Employee # | Inspection Nr | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 300795564 | Fatality | Other | Truck drivers, heavy |
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