Inspection Detail

Inspection: 125835868 - Joe Heidrick Enterprises

Inspection Information - Office: Sacramento District Office

Investigation Summary

On May 9, 1998, Employee #1, a farm worker with Joe Heidrick Farms, was driving a large agricultural tractor along a field road. He was towing a 4,000-gal tank trailer that was approximately one-third full of herbicide between fields and was making a series of sharp turns when the trailer rolled over. Thinking the tractor was going to do the same, Employee #1 jumped off, fracturing his hip. He was treated at the scene by the local fire department before being transported by ambulance to UC/Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, CA. The tank did not have any baffles, and the unit apparently overturned because of liquid sloshing from side to side. The tractor was traveling at approximately 20 mph when Employee #1 jumped.

Keywords: FRACTURE, AGRICULTURE, FALL, TRAILER, TANK, HIP, OVERTURN, TOWED EQUIPMENT, UNSTABLE LOAD