Inspection Detail

Inspection: 303082473 - Bfi Systems Of North America Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Baton Rouge Area Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 5:30 a.m. on November 3, 2000, Employee #1, a 19-year-old temp for Tru Staffing, was assigned to BFI as a rear-end loader helper on a residential trash collection crew. The route traveled north on Highway 328, where the crew stopped at a convenience store to get coffee and use the facilities. It was still dark at this time of the morning. While a coworker was still in the store, the driver and Employee #1 proceeded north 10 to 20 ft to collect more trash. Employee #1 brought a small trash trailer from the opposite side of the road to the rear of the truck. He was then directed to engage the forward blade to compact the trash. Employee #1 began to cross the street again to get another trash bin when he was struck by a pickup truck heading south on Highway 328. The pickup truck carried him 75 to 80 ft before stopping in a ditch along the right side of the road. Employee #1 was killed. The highway was a relatively straight roadway at that spot, with the nearest curve approximately 3/4 mile north of the accident scene. There were no obstructions to deter the view of either the truck's driver or Employee #1. The pickup operator said that Employee #1 stepped out from the driver's side of the BFI truck into the southbound lane and looked directly at his vehicle. This suggests two explanations for the accident: 1) Employee #1 was not paying attention to his surroundings, did not see the approaching pickup truck, and stepped into its travel path; or 2) the pickup was driving without its lights on, and Employee #1 did not see it until the last moment. During pre-dawn hours, the garbage truck would normally have its headlights and emergency flashers on in front, and its taillights and a strobe light on in the rear, making the vehicle visible from both directions. This was Employee #1's first day working for Tru/BFI. Tru Staffing normally hired the temporary employees, trained them in safety procedures, and provided them with the necessary protective equipment (e.g., orange vest, gloves, glasses). Employee #1 was wearing the required PPE, including an orange visibility vest, at the time he was struck.

Keywords: PICKUP TRUCK, INATTENTION, GARBAGE TRUCK, HIGHWAY, TRAFFIC ACCIDENT, TRUCK, STRUCK BY, POOR VISIBILITY