On March 17, 2015, a 44-year old haul truck driver with 4 days of experience was injured at a dredge operation. He was operating a loaded articulated haul truck along an elevated roadway next to a dredge pond. After traveling about 125 yards from the loading point, the haul truck drifted into the water. The victim was removed from the truck, transported to a hospital, and then transferred to a trauma center where he died on March 19, 2015.
Best Practices
- Task train mobile equipment operators adequately and ensure each operator can demonstrate proficiency in all phases of mobile equipment operation before performing work.
- Provide and maintain adequate berms or guardrails on the banks of roadways where a drop-off exists.
- Conduct adequate pre-operational checks and correct any defects affecting safety in a timely manner prior to operating mobile equipment.
- Always wear a seat belt when operating self-propelled mobile equipment.
- Maintain control of self-propelled mobile equipment while it is in motion.
- Operate mobile equipment at speeds consistent with the conditions of roadways, tracks, grades, clearance, visibility, curves, and traffic.
- Conduct adequate work place examinations using competent persons and promptly correct hazardous conditions that adversely affect safety and health.
- Ensure that all exits from cabs on mobile equipment are maintained and operable.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (pdf).