Inspection Detail

Inspection: 100741990 - Gill Excavating

Inspection Information - Office: Dallas Area Office

Investigation Summary

Employee #1 was a surveyor shooting grade stakes for motor grading operations being conducted on a construction site. The grader was making scraping passes toward the west and backing toward the east between passes. Approximately 3 minutes before the accident, the grader operator stopped next to Employee #1, who was not in the operating area at the time, and told him he would be finished in a couple more passes. Employee #1 acknowledged that he had heard the operator. The grader made a scraping pass to the west. Employee #1 went out into the prepared area to install a hub. He was kneeling with his back toward the grader when it backed up almost 200 feet and ran over him, killing him instantly. The operator never saw Employee #1; his visibility was restricted because Employee #1 was low to the ground, and close to the rear of the grader. The back-up alarm was working perfectly. Apparently, Employee #1 was so engrossed in his work that he never heard the grader coming.

Keywords: EARTHMOVING EQUIP, BACKING UP, INATTENTION, GRADER, OBSTRUCTED REAR VIEW, CONSTRUCTION, STRUCK BY, RUN OVER