Inspection Detail

Inspection: 317008654 - Jimmies Tree Service Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Sc Department Of Labor, Licensing, And Regulation

Investigation Summary

At approximately 4:00 p.m. on August 8, 2013, an employee was working on Highway 261, East of Hemmingway, as part of a five man crew that was clearing the trees and brush in the right of way. The employee was the supervisor of the crew on scene and no other non-management personnel was on site. The employee was working as a flagman in the East bound lane of Hwy 261. The employee was standing behind a 2013 GMC pickup, flagging the East bound traffic. The GMC pickup was legally parked on the pavement at the end of the taper/transition area at the West end of the work zone. The Tree Service also had two bucket trucks on scene that were parked inside the work zone, partially on the highway and partially on the shoulder of the highway. A 2003 Mercury Grand Marque traveling East bound on Highway 261 was traveling at approximately 55 MPH came through the transition area prior to the work zone. The Grand Marque struck the employee and then struck the GMC pickup. The impact caused the GMC pickup to go off the roadway and through a ditch. The employee was transported via life flight helicopter to Grand Strand Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The work zone had traffic cones delineating the East and West transition areas as well as the work zone itself per the Work Zone Safety Guidelines for the South Carolina Department of Transportation. There were also advanced warning signs (Men Working, One Lane Ahead and Flag Man Ahead) that were placed on the shoulder of Highway 261 that were placed approximately 400 feet apart (based on SC Highway Patrol video) in both East and West bound directions. All work trucks on site had flashing warning lights at the time of the accident. Each member of the crew was wearing safety vests, hard hat, safety glasses, and steel toe boots. The employee had led the crew in a safety meeting that morning once they had arrived on site that covered the safety hazards that could be encountered on the work site.

Keywords: HEAD, CONSTRUCTION, STRUCK BY, MOTOR VEHICLE