Inspection Detail

Inspection: 304517345 - Gulf Disposal, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Tampa Area Office

Investigation Summary

On May 23, 2001, a residential waste truck operated by an employee of Gulf Disposal pulled onto the tipping floor at Lee County Solid Waste Resource Recovery Facility, and backed into position at the pit to dump a load. The Gulf Disposal driver and attendant both got out of the truck cab and walked to the rear of the truck to unlatch the tailgate so it could be raised. The driver then raised the tailgate, activated the mechanism to empty the load, and pulled forward approximately 20 to 30 feet for the attendant to remove any remaining trash from the rear of the truck. The attendant was standing to one side at the rear of the truck while the load was being emptied. As the truck pulled forward, the attendant started to walk up to the truck. At the same time, the Gulf Disposal truck was pulling forward, a front-end loader operated by an employee of Covanta Lee, Inc. pulled next to the Gulf Disposal truck, on the passenger side, to push the trash into the pit. The front-end loader operator saw the Gulf Disposal attendant when he pulled in and pushed the trash. He did not see the attendant as he backed up, but he had seen the Gulf Disposal truck pull out. He felt the right front tire go over something and, when he looked down, saw a person on the ground. He had run over and killed the attendant.

Keywords: GARBAGE TRUCK, FRONT END LOADER, DRIVER, CRUSHED, RUN OVER, INATTENTION