Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 790436 - Employee killed in fall from rock saw track machine

Accident Summary Nr: 790436 -- Report ID: 1054118 -- Event Date: 01/14/1997
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
115777336	01/15/1997	1623	0	Manuel Bros Inc

Abstract: At approximately 1:00 p.m. on January 14, 1997, Employee #1, a trainee, was using a rock saw track machine to cut through rock for the future installation of fiber optic cable on a slope with about a 50 percent grade. For some reason, the saw blade was raised in the UP position and the machine was in third gear. The employee lost control of the machine and it traveled 286 ft downhill, hitting and breaking off a 21 in. diameter pine tree before reaching flat ground. Employee #1 was found by the designated machine operator 83 ft uphill from where the machine stopped. Due to the employee's severe head and body injuries, the operator did not attempt first aid but went for help. According to the police, the employee's head had hit a stump and he was run over by the machine. He died at the scene. The accident occurred five miles southeast of Lagrande, OR.

Keywords: EJECTED, HEAD, WORK RULES, STRUCK AGAINST, CONSTRUCTION, STEEP GRADE, INEXPERIENCE, LOST CONTROL, RUN OVER

Accident Details
End Use		Project Type		Project Cost	Stories	Non-building Height	Fatality
Powerline, transmission line		Other		Under $50,000			X

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation	Construction
1	115777336			Fatality	Fracture	Miscellaneous material moving equipment operators	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Site grading and rock removal Fatality Cause: Crushed/run-over/trapped of operator by operating

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