Inspection Detail

Inspection: 308435767 - Barco-Duval Engineering, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Jacksonville Area Office

Investigation Summary

On January 23, 2006, the operator of a Caterpillar DR6 Bulldozer worked in a storage area, where rock material was delivered. The worker used the bulldozer to push the rock into large piles. He normally worked alone. When his supervisor arrived at the scene, he saw the bulldozer running near the bottom of the slope of a storage pile, with the bulldozer operator lying on the ground next to the bulldozer. The operator died of multiple traumatic injuries, including lacerations, fractures, and abrasions. Apparently, the worker stepped from or fell from the operator's cab onto the track of the bulldozer and was run over by the bulldozer. The parking brake of the bulldozer had not been set. It is possible that when the operator left the operator's cab and made contact with the track, the bulldozer rolled down the slope of the storage pile. As it rolled, the track caught the worker, and he was crushed between the track and a fender of the bulldozer. An investigation revealed that the bulldozer's parking brake was operating properly, and that the bulldozer appeared to be well maintained. A seat belt was provided in the operator's cab.

Keywords: FRACTURE, ROCK, EQUIPMENT OPERATOR, CAUGHT BETWEEN, CRUSHED, LACERATION, MECH MAT HANDLING, BULLDOZER, STORAGE AREA, SLOPE