Inspection Detail

Inspection: 305570939 - Cherry Hill Construction, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Department Of Labor, Licensing, And Regulation Division Of Labor And Industry Maryland Occupational Safety And Health

Investigation Summary

On August 26, 2002, Employee #1, a heavy equipment mechanic, went to a new highway project on Maryland Route 450 to check on a Caterpillar D-5 bulldozer that reportedly was not operating properly. The equipment operator told him that the steering clutches would occasionally lock up. Employee #1 ran the dozer for approximately 20 minutes but could not get the steering clutches to lock up. He then turned the dozer back over to the equipment operator and remained nearby to observe the machine in operation. Employee #1 then told the operator to take the dozer out of gear and to hold the steering clutches until he got up into the operator's cab. Employee #1 stated that he had climbed onto the left track he saw the operator let go of the steering clutches. The dozer then moved forward, pinning Employee #1's left leg under the track. After removal from under the dozer, Employee #1 was airlifted to University Hospital in Baltimore, where he was treated for severe crushing injuries and his lower left leg was surgically amputated.

Keywords: AMPUTATED, PINNED, WORK RULES, CONSTRUCTION, BULLDOZER, RUN OVER, COMMUNICATION, LEG