Inspection Detail

Inspection: 125773473 - Jane Mcclurg Farms

Inspection Information - Office: Fresno District Office

Investigation Summary

Between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on November 25, 1997, Employee #1 was fatally injured when the tractor, a Massey Ferguson 255, Serial Number 9A347028, he was operating overturned in a dry canal pinning him underneath. At approximately 11:00 a.m. a passerby saw the tractor and Employee #1 in the canal and called for help. The Sheriff's Department had a tow truck lift the tractor so Employee #1 could be removed and he was pronounced deceased at the scene. Employee #1 had begun work at 7:00 a.m. and was cultivating a grape vineyard and was last seen by his employer at approximately 9:30 a.m. driving the tractor back to the barn via the canal bank. Employee #1 had worked for this small farming operation for approximately forty years and had driven this tractor since it was purchased new in 1982. The Tractor was factory built in 1981 without ROPS which was not standard equipment at the time but available as an accessory, along with seat belts. Employee #1 was fully trained and qualified. Employee #1 recently had suffered an ear infection and had been using ear drops. The canal bank roadway was in good condition and measured 13 ft to the edge of the ditch with an additional 4 ft on the side. The canal road did have a slight curve prior to where the tractor overturned. The tractor had recently been serviced on September 15, 1997, by a repair company which did perform repairs on the steering mechanism. When tractor was pulled from the canal, an employee drove it to the barn without any steering problems.

Keywords: ASPHYXIATED, PINNED, EQUIPMENT OPERATOR, TRACTOR, OVERTURN