Digital Commons Network^™

Service Technician Working Alone Dies After Being Assaulted, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

One late fall evening in 2009, a 53 year-old male technician was working alone at a repair shop. At approximately 9:45 PM, the technician returned to the shop with his dinner from a nearby fast-food establishment. He spread his dinner on the work bench and began eating when apparently he was attacked from behind. His attacker used a knife and cut the technician’s carotid artery and jugular vein on the left side of his neck. The attacker fled, and the technician used a cell phone to call 911, emergency medical services (EMS). When EMS arrived, they found the technician dead …

Worker Crushed To Death By Falling Steel Coil, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

On April 13, 2005, a 40-year-old male laborer was moving a 5-feet by 9-inch coil of slitted steel, weighing 6600 pounds, when it fell on him. The laborer was in the process of wrapping a chain through the middle of the coil and through a homemade device on the forks of a forklift when the coil tipped over. As the laborer tried to move away from the falling coil, it landed on his left side, breaking his left leg and causing internal injuries. Other workers in the area did not see, but heard the commotion of the falling coil. The …

Horse Farm Owner Dies When Pinned Under Golf Cart, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

On January 31, 2004, a 45-year old female horse farm owner (decedent) died when she was pinned under a golf cart. The woman had driven a gas-powered golf cart from her house on the farm to the horse barn to muck stalls and put horses in the barn. After driving the golf cart into the barn, the farm owner placed two square bales of hay on the golf cart; one on the back and one on the passenger side of the front seat. Leaving the ignition key of the golf cart in the “on” position, she left the golf cart …

Equine Farm Manager Dies From Accidental Overdose Of Xylazine, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

On October 6, 2003, a 49-year-old male equine farm manager accidentally died after injecting himself with an unknown quantity of Sedazine (xylazine), a sedative commonly used to sedate horses. After visiting a barn’s storage area at approximately 8:45 am, the farm manager went to his house located on the farm and apparently tried to ease his pain by injecting himself with xylazine. At approximately 9:45 am, a female co-worker saw the farm manager’s dog running unrestrained outside and went to the farm manager’s house to return the dog. Upon entering the house, she found the farm manager lying face down …

Metal Fabrication Shop Owner Dies When Crushed By Falling Steel Plate, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

On December 15, 2003, a metal fabrication shop owner died when a 4,000 pound steel base plate fell on him. While inside the shop building, the work crew of least three men, including the owner, fabricated a 10’x 20’ steel base plate to be used at a water treatment plant. The base plate was to house or serve as a bas anchor a large water pump. After welding connectors and channel iron beams to one side of the plate, the crew pushed the plate through a bay door with a forktruck to an outside area in back of the shop. …

38 Year-Old Construction Laborer Dies When Trench Walls Collapse, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

On November 3, 2003, a 38-year-old male construction laborer died when the unprotected 8-foot high walls of the trench he was working in collapsed. The decedent was working for a subcontractor who was contracted by a construction company to remove old gas, storm and sanitary sewer lines and install similar new lines. The old abandoned 6-inch diameter gas line was a high pressure, 300 – 320 psi gas line in 10-inch steel casing and was 600 feet long. There were five employees at the job site employed by the subcontractor; a foreman who was a certified competent person, a lab …

Laborer Dies When Caught In Arms Of A Skidsteer Loader, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

On September 19, 2003, a 23-year-old male laborer (decedent) died when he became caught in the activated arms of a skidsteer loader. A work crew consisting of a contractor and 3 laborers had spent the day installing fence on a dairy farm. Earlier in the day, the contractor had borrowed a skidsteer from the farm owner. The work crew used the skidsteer to set fence posts in the ground. At the end of the work day (approximately 4:00 PM), the contractor instructed the decedent to return the skidsteer to the barn area. From the work site, the decedent drove the …

Licensed Electrician Dies When Electrocuted By 480volts, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

On July 4, 2003, a 36-year-old male lead electrician died after being electrocuted with 480 volts of electricity. A crew of five licensed electricians were working at an automotive supply manufacturing facility running wires to connect service for two air conditioning units (3-phase; 480 volts; 30 amp and 35 amp) and service for a lighting panel (3-phase; 277/480 volts and 200 amps). The manufacturing facility had been shut down for the holiday, and besides a facilities office worker in the facilities main office, the five men were the only workers at the site and had complete control of the facility …

Master Plumber Dies When Trench Collapses, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

On July 29, 2003, a 35-year-old, male master plumber died when an unshorn trench collapsed. Two employees from the contracting company were speaking with him at the time from the side of the trench. He had searched and diagnosed a water line leak when the walls of the trench collapsed. The plumber was employed by a plumbing company contracted by a commercial establishment to locate and repair a water leak. He died at the scene from asphyxia due to chest compression.

To prevent future occurrences of similar incidents, the following recommendations have been made:

Recommendation No. 1: Employers should train …

Construction Laborer Dies From Heat Stroke At End Of Workday, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

On June 27, 2003, a 41-year-old, male laborer died from heat stroke one day after being taken to the hospital. The laborer was working on an addition to a factory sawing boards to make concrete forms. He worked until 5:00 pm that day and was in the parking lot on his way to his vehicle when he apparently collapsed beside his vehicle. A worker on the second shift at the factory was taking scrap material outside to a dumpster when he found the laborer on the ground. The factory worker returned to the plant and told his supervisor there was …

Bulldozer Owner/Operator Dies When Thrown Off Bulldozer Track, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

On June 19, 2003, a 58-year-old bulldozer owner/operator (decedent) died when he was thrown off the track of his bulldozer. The bulldozer owner/operator and a laborer were having difficulty starting the bulldozer. Together, the two men had tried several different methods to start the bulldozer including: spraying ether into the air chamber, having the battery recharged, replacing the battery cables with new ones and tightening wires to the starter. They worked from the left side track of the bulldozer. The laborer sat towards the front of the track tightening the wires to the starter while the owner stood on the …

Bulldozer Owner/Operator Drowns While Trying To Repair A Pond, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

The Kentucky Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation program was notified July 31, 2003, via newspaper surveillance, of an occupational fatality involving a 55-year-old bulldozer owner/operator. On July 29, 2003, a bulldozer owner / operator drowned in the cab of his machine as he was trying to find a leak in a pond dam. The operator had been hired by a local farm owner to find and repair a leak in one of the ponds on her farm. As the operator dug a trench through the earthen dam, a section at the top collapsed sending sludge into the trench. The water/sludge …

Chinese Immigrant Restaurant Owner Electrocuted, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

On August 12, 2002, at 6:40 pm, a Chinese immigrant restaurant owner (decedent) died after being electrocuted by 110 volts of electricity. The restaurant owner and his wife were refurbishing a restaurant they had recently purchased. They spent the day cleaning the kitchen area while waiting for a washing machine repairman to arrive. Earlier in the day, the decedent had removed the electric cord to a single door, glass-fronted vertical cooler on rollers. He replaced the electrical cord from the unit with an electrical cord he had fabricated himself by attaching one end of a 10 foot length of 10/2 …

21 Year-Old Male Dies When Struck In The Head With A Track Hoe Bucket, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

On November 22, 2002, a 21-year-old male laborer died after being hit in the head with the bucket of a track hoe. He was wearing a safety helmet at the time of the incident. There were six to seven workers at the job site when the incident occurred. The work crew was pouring the footing for a retaining wall as part of a bridge for a private runway being built. The concrete form collapsed, trapping one worker and almost trapping two others. The decedent had left to retrieve a shovel to help free the trapped co-worker. As he retrieved the …

41 Year-Old Male Dies After Being Struck In The Head With An Auger, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

On October 23, 2002, a 41 year-old male (decedent) died after he was hit in the head with the handle of an auger. He was part of a four-member work crew tying water lines of private residences into a municipal water line. He was injured while backing the auger out of the hole and the handle became tangled with the rotating auger bit which caused the handle to flip up and strike him in the head, twice. After being struck, with co-workers following him trying to convince him to sit down, he walked away from the site until emergency rescue …

Hispanic Worker Dies Due To Trench Cave-In, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

On December 3, 2002, a 30-year old Hispanic laborer died when an unsupported 8-foot wall of a trench collapsed on him. Three laborers were working in an unsupported trench when one side caved in, burying one laborer (decedent) and partially burying another Hispanic worker. The third laborer managed to escape the trench unharmed. Two of the laborers were Hispanic, the third was a brother to the owner of the company digging the trench. The coroner pronounced the 30-year old laborer dead at the scene due to asphyxiation.

To prevent similar incidents from occurring, Kentucky Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation personnel …

15-Year-Old Dies In Utility Golf Cart Overturn, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

A fifteen-year-old golf course worker (the victim) was killed when the utility golf cart he was operating overturned. The victim was employed by the golf club adjacent to which he and his family resided and had driven the utility golf cart to his home located at the top of a hill to change clothes. Before leaving work for his residence, he contacted a friend who then came to his house on a regular course golf cart (not a utility cart). After the victim changed clothes, he and his friend left the victim’s home. Then on their respective carts, traveled downhill …

Construction Worker Dies After Being Struck By A Falling Excavator Bucket, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

A 44-year-old construction worker (victim) was killed when a 36-inch-wide bucket weighing more than 1000 pounds, detached from its quick release coupler and fell from an excavator, landing on him as he was working in a trench. The victim and another worker had been in the trench preparing it for a pre-formed concrete manhole that they were about to install. Their supervisor (the excavator operator) sat and waited in the excavator, with the engine running, and the bucket raised a few feet above ground level so that it would be out of the way. The second man in the trench …

Factory Worker Entangled In Conveyor Belt Rollers, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

An 18-year-old male chop saw operator (the victim) died when his right arm became caught in the roller mechanism underneath a conveyor belt. He was pulled into the roller mechanism and suffered compressional asphyxia and blunt force injuries. The victim had left his usual work station for a break. When he did not return on time, his supervisor began to search for him. He saw the victim's legs hanging from the conveyor belt and immediately ran to him and shut off the power to the conveyor belt, radioing a guard to call for emergency medical services (EMS). He and another …

Factory Worker Caught In Overhead Conveyor While Hanging Transformers, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

A 29-year-old male factory worker (the victim) died after his head became caught at the point where an overhead chain conveyor made contact with an idler, or pinwheel, that allowed the conveyor to make a 90-degree turn. The conveyor was over seven feet above the floor, but the victim, who was 6'7" tall, was standing on a platform that enabled him to reach the hooks on the conveyor to hang transformer canisters for delivery to a paint booth. No one saw the victim get caught at the nip point, but his supervisor heard him call out and immediately pushed the …

Bulldozer Operator Killed In Rollover, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

A 56-year-old bulldozer operator was killed while clearing land on a steep hillside. He was self-employed and used the John Deere 450C bulldozer that he owned for logging on his own property, as well as doing work for others when needed. He owned mountain property near his home and he used the bulldozer to clear a series of paths in the hills for logging. At approximately 8 pm on the day of the incident, he was using the bulldozer to clear a path leading downhill where he planned to put a sawmill. As he was grading, he backed the bulldozer …

Sawmill Worker Killed By Circular Saw, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

A 32-year-old laborer (the victim) at a sawmill died as a result of injuries received when he lost his balance and fell onto the log carriage directly in front of the 56-inch circular saw. He had been using a cane hook to turn the logs for repeated passes through the saw. After hooking a log, he somehow lost his balance and fell backward onto the carriage; the saw cut him from his shoulders through his midsection. A co-worker (the sawyer) was present, but had been facing another direction and did not see the victim fall. When the sawyer turned around …

Pug Mill Operator Killed After Entanglement, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

On November 19, 1996, a 25-­year­-old female pug mill operator at a brick manufacturing plant was killed after her clothing became caught in a rotating shaft. She was strangled as the rotating shaft tightened her clothing around her neck, restricting her airway. In order to prevent similar incidents from occurring, FACE investigators recommend:

• Machines with rotating parts should have guards to prevent worker contact
• Employers should designate a competent person to conduct regular safety inspections and coordinate routine safety and injury prevention meetings
• Employers should provide a kill switch (panic bar) within reach of the pug mill that stops the …

Front End Loader Overturns On Seed/Fertilizer Store Owner, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

A 53-year-old farmer and partner in a seed and fertilizer business was loading fertilizer for a customer. He was driving the store's old front end loader, which had no roll over protective structure (ROPS) or seatbelt. After coming around to the back of the building where fertilizer was stored, he failed to turn the loader into the bin; instead it continued forward almost 50 feet to a ditch. When the front tire went over the edge of the ditch, the loader overturned, coming to rest on top of the victim. He died within minutes.

In order to prevent similar incidents, …

Welder Is Crushed By An Unmanned Pipelayer, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

A 34-year-old male welder was killed after being runover by an unmanned pipelayer. The victim worked for a pipelaying construction company as a contracted welder. On the day of the incident the victim, a welder's helper, and an equipment operator drove to the work site together to begin the day's activities. Access for the worksite was via a single lane temporary road winding up the mountainside through a mixed hardwood forest. The 1/2 mile dirt road carved its way up the hillside; on the left was the bank, on the right was a steep drop off. As the victim drove …