Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 201363488 - Two Employees Drown in Bulldozer in River

Accident Summary Nr: 201363488 -- Report ID: 0419400 -- Event Date: 12/07/2009
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
313628059	12/08/2009	1629	237990	Cahaba Disaster Recovery, Llc

Abstract: On or about December 3, 2009, Employees #1 and #2 were performing debris removal and erosion control work along the Coldwater River Watershed, in a Caterpillar (Model D-4) bulldozer near the Coldwater River. Work on this project had been suspended on December 2, 2009, due to heavy rains and high river levels. For unknown reasons, Employees #1 and #2 drove to project access property in Desoto County, MS on or about December 3, 2009, and parked their pickup on dry land. They both then got into the enclosed cab of the bulldozer and drove it toward the Coldwater River, which was out of its banks due to previous heavy rains. At some point, the dozer fell into the Coldwater River, and the two men drowned. The top of the dozer was not noticed until it was spotted by other workers on the south side of the Coldwater River at about 1:00 p.m. on December 7, 2009. The bodies of Employees #1 and #2 were found inside the cab of the Caterpillar D-4 dozer.

Keywords: VEHICLE, EQUIPMENT OPERATOR, RIDING ON EQUIPMENT, RIVER, BULLDOZER, DROWN, WATER

Accident Details
End Use		Project Type		Project Cost	Stories	Non-building Height	Fatality
Other heavy construction		New project or new addition		$500,000 to $1,000,000			X

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Construction
1	313628059			Fatality	Other	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Site clearing and grubbing Fatality Cause: Caught in stationary equipment
2	313628059			Fatality	Other	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Site clearing and grubbing Fatality Cause: Caught in stationary equipment

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