Inspection Detail

Inspection: 100370188 - Zarrella Cabbage Sales Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Fort Lauderdale Area Office

Investigation Summary

AT THE END OF A WORK SHIFT, A TRACTOR TOWING A CABBAGE PLANTING MACHINE BECAME STUCK IN SOFT, WET SOIL. RECENT RAINS HAD CAUSED SEVERAL INCIDENCES OF STUCK FARM MACHINERY THAT DAY. EMPLOYEE #1, OPERATING A 1968 OLIVER TRACTOR, MODEL 465-22236, SERIAL NUMBER 215696488, NOTICED THE STUCK TRACTOR AND OFFERED TO ASSIST. HIS TRACTOR WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A SEATBELT OR ROPS. HE DID, HOWEVER, HAVE 23 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE OPERATING FARM MACHINES FOR THIS EMPLOYER. HE BACKED HIS TRACTOR INTO POSITION TO PULL THE OTHER TRACTOR OUT. THE OPERATOR OF THE STUCK TRACTOR, WHILE UNWINDING THE TOW CHAIN FROM EMPLOYEE #1'S TRACTOR'S LIFT ARMS, ASKED IF HE COULD LEAVE THE CHAIN ATTACHED TO THE LIFT ARMS. THE LIFT ARMS WERE LOCATED MUCH HIGHER THAN THE TOW BAR. EMPLOYEE #1 SAID, "YA", SO THE OTHER EMPLOYEE HOOKED THE OTHER END OF THE CHAIN TO THE FRONT OF HIS (STUCK) TRACTOR. DURING THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO FREE THE STUCK TRACTOR, THE FRONT OF THE PULLING TRACTOR CAME OFF THE GROUND. EMPLOYEE #1 "BACKED OFF". ON THE SECOND, MORE VIGOROUS ATTEMPT, EMPLOYEE #1'S TRACTOR OVERTURNED TO THE REAR. THE TRACTOR LANDED ON TOP OF EMPLOYEE #1 AND CRUSHED HIM TO DEATH.

Keywords: AGRICULTURE, ROLL-OVER, WORK RULES, ROPS, CRUSHED, MIRED, TRACTOR