Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Commons^™

Amputation Injuries Due To Forklifts, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Kentucky Haz Alerts--Other

To prevent injuries from forklifts while working:

• Before you operate a forklift, make sure that you are trained and certified.
• Remember if you are on a sit-down type forklift, and it starts to over-turn, lean in the opposite direction, stay with the forklift; don’t jump.
• When operating a forklift on site, slow the truck and sound the horn at cross aisles, exits, and other employee traverse points.
• Before dismounting, set the parking brake, lower the forks or lifting carriage, and neutralize controls.

Workers Killed In Falls From Ladders, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Kentucky Haz Alerts--Falls

To prevent falls from ladders while working:

• Make sure that an extension or straight ladder are erected according to the “4 to 1” rule of thumb.
• Safe work practices should be established by the employer for ascending and descending extension or straight ladders with materials and/ or equipment.
• All non-self-supporting ladders should be secured at the top and stabilized at the bottom.
• While working from ladders, workers should wear appropriate footwear.

Passenger Dies When Semi-Truck Trailer Hits Cow In Roadway, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Motor Vehicle

On November 8, 2005, a 26-year-old male laborer who was a passenger in a semi-truck died when the driver swerved to avoid hitting a cow that was standing in the parkway lane. The two employees had been traveling westbound for approximately one hour when the driver noticed a cow in his lane. He swerved to avoid hitting the cow but hit it anyway. The tractor and two trailers jack-knifed, traveled through the median with the cab and trailers flipped onto their right sides, slid across the eastbound lanes, then the cab slammed through the guardrail. The cab came to rest …

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 …

Working Drivers Killed In Motor Vehicle Collisions Were Not Wearing Safety Belts, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Kentucky Haz Alerts--Motor Vehicle

To prevent motor vehicle injuries while working:

• Employers should implement a comprehensive employee driver safety training program.
• Employees should wear seat belts at all times.
• Employees should be aware of distractions and pay attention at all times.

Dump Truck Driver Dies After Unintentional Release Of Asphalt, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Motor Vehicle

On June 6, 2005 a 55-year-old male dump truck driver (Driver 1) died when he was buried waist deep in 400-degree Fahrenheit asphalt. Driver 1 stopped along the highway to help another dump truck driver (Driver 2), (both were independent truck drivers), who had experienced brake problems. As the two men were examining the pneumatic brake system at the rear of the disabled dump truck, the tailgate opened unexpectedly, spilling hot asphalt onto the decedent who was under the rear of the truck.

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

Recommendation No. 1: Tailgate chains should always …

Dump Truck Driver Crushed Between Trackhoe And Dump Truck, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Motor Vehicle

On November 11, 2004, a 33-year-old male dump truck driver died when he was crushed between the driver’s side of the dump truck and the swinging counter-weight of an excavator (trackhoe). His dump truck became stuck in mud after the trackhoe loaded dirt into it so he walked to the on-site office and informed the owner. The owner located a bulldozer on site and drove it to the dump truck while the driver retrieved a chain from his personal pickup truck. The owner raised the blade so the driver could attach the chain to it. Raising the blade of the …

Cleaner Falls 35 Feet To His Death Through Temporary Roof Opening, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Falls

On February 23, 2004, a 50-year-old male cleaner died when he fell approximately 35 feet through a temporary roof opening and was impaled on a piece of equipment on the factory floor. He had been cleaning an exhaust fan on a factory roof with a pressure washer. He and two coworkers had removed the fan from its casing creating a temporary roof opening and set the fan beside the roof opening for cleaning. Facing the fan with his back to the opening, the cleaner apparently stepped backwards and fell through the opening. He fell onto a 1200-ton die-casting machine on …

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 …

Traffic Technician Dies From Fall While Changing Traffic Signal Bulb, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Motor Vehicle

On Monday, March 31, 2003, a 39-year-old male (decedent) highway traffic technician, working alone, received fatal head injuries after falling out of the bucket of an aerial boom truck. Injuries sustained in the fall resulted in his death four days later. He was changing a burned-out green traffic bulb in a traffic signal suspended over 2 lanes of traffic. As he worked from the aerial lift suspended over traffic to change the burned out bulb, a cargo truck drove underneath the bucket, striking it, and causing the decedent to fall to the asphalt below. As the worker fell approximately 10 …

Landscaping Laborer Dies When Struck By Bouncing Log, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Tractors/Logging

On March 5, 2004, a 57-year-old male laborer died when a 19 inch wide x 31 inch long log rolled down a mountain hitting him in his head and chest. The laborer had been employed for three days by a landscaping company contracted to clear the tree canopy over a gas line right-of-way. At approximately 2:20 pm, the company owner and five laborers were felling trees and bucking downed trees with chain saws and pole saws to remove the trees and limbs hanging over and growing in the gas line right-of-way. Two of the laborers were working topside at the …

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 …

Kentucky Residential Roofing Falls, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Kentucky Haz Alerts--Falls

To prevent falls while working on roofs:

• Always use appropriate guardrail, scaffold, or fall protection systems.
• Both employers and subcontractors should provide comprehensive site-specific fall protection training for their employees.
• Conduct a thorough assessment in and around the work area to identify existing and potential fall hazards prior to the start of work.

Caidas Desde Techos Residenciales En Kentucky, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Kentucky Haz Alerts--Falls

Para prevenir caídas mientras trabaja sobre techos:

• Siempre use sistema con baranda de protección, instale un andamio, y haga uso de un sistema contra caídas apropiado.
• Tanto empleadores como subcontratistas deberán proporcionar a sus empleados entrenamiento específico y completo sobre protección contra caídas acorde con el sito de trabajo.
• Conduzca una valoración cuidadosa dentro y alrededor del área de trabajo para identificar cualquier riesgo potencial de caída, antes de iniciar las labores.

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 …

Workers Crushed By Vehicles, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Kentucky Haz Alerts--Motor Vehicle

To prevent motor vehicle repair injuries:

• Ensure that vehicles are positively restrained from moving with chocks.
• Do not place jack stands under potential moving vehicle parts.
• The space under a jack-suspended vehicle should not be entered unless suitable vehicle support stands are utilized.

Trabajadores Aplastados Por Vehículos, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Kentucky Haz Alerts--Motor Vehicle

Para prevenir lesiones relacionadas con la reparación de automotores:

1. Asegúrese de que los vehículos estén firmemente inmovilizados con tacos.
2. No coloque los soportes bajo partes del vehículo que se puedan mover.
3. No se debe ocupar el espacio entre un vehículo suspendido con gato y el suelo a menos que se haga uso de bases de soporte adecuadas para el mismo.

Homicides In The Workplace, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Kentucky Haz Alerts--Other

To prevent workplace violence:

• Assessment for workplace violence risks should be done in all workplaces.
• Workplaces should have policies that clearly delineate that violence is not appropriate during any workplace interaction and violence policies should mirror other workplace policies in terms of strategies for reporting and investigation of incidents, and progressive discipline.
• A clear and consistent reporting system for workplace violence should be in place and every worker should understand how it works.
• Safety training should be attended by employers, supervisors, and employees.
• Policy, training, and employee assistance for domestic violence should be implemented in collaboration with community service providers.

Homicidios En El Lugar De Trabajo, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Kentucky Haz Alerts--Other

Para prevenir la violencia ocupacional:

Una valoración de los riesgos de violencia ocupacional deberá ser llevada a cabo en todos los lugares de trabajo.

Los lugares de trabajo deben implementar políticas que aclaren que la violencia no es apropiada durante ninguna interacción laboral; de igual forma las políticas sobre violencia deberán reflejar los procedimientos del lugar de trabajo en términos de estrategias para reportar e investigar los casos y la progresión de la disciplina.

Un sistema de reporte de la violencia laboral claro y consistente deberá ser implementado en el lugar de trabajo, y cada trabajador deberá comprender como funciona. …

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 …

Roofing Laborer Dies After 60-Foot Fall, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Falls

At 8:00 AM on the morning of October 7, 2003, a 33-year-old laborer, working for a roofing contractor, was removing debris from a commercial building roof when he slipped and fell 60 feet to the sidewalk below. There were 2 other laborers and the contractor at the work site that morning. It was the second work day at this particular job site and the three workers were to finish discarding bags of debris from the roof. The decedent and one of the laborers accessed the roof through the building interior, up a flight of stairs to a five-step ladder which …

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 …

Highway Construction Worker Dies When Struck By Semi-Tractor Trailer, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Motor Vehicle

At approximately 8:30 am on April 16, 2003, a 48-year-old male (decedent) highway construction laborer working in an interstate highway median, died when he was struck by an out-of-control double trailer (a semi-truck pulling two trailers). The laborer was speaking with the job foreman and another laborer in the median next to a grading machine. As the decedent looked toward the traffic, he saw a double trailer traveling on the right-hand shoulder swerve into the left-hand lane and drive into the median where all three men were standing. He told the other two to get out of the way as …

28-Year-Old Man Dies After Falling With Lift, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Falls

On June 27, 2003, a 28-year-old male sound technician died due to injuries received after falling approximately 50 feet from a lift. Three men (one chief sound engineer and two sound technicians) were sent to repair a sound system in a school gymnasium. Upon arriving and assessing the situation, the three diagnosed that a particular speaker, located in the rafters, should be removed from its location. Using a 30-year-old telescoping, self-leveling lift belonging to the school, the chief engineer used controls located at the base of the lift, to hoist the two sound technicians to the speaker in the rafter. …

Fatal Tractor Overturns: Don't Let Them Roll Over You!, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Kentucky Haz Alerts--Tractors/Logging

To prevent tractor injuries:

• All tractors should be equipped with a Roll Over Protective Structure (ROPS) and a seat belt.
• Tractors should be equipped with front-end counterweights and tractor wheels
• should be weighted to increase stability.
• Community farm safety training with safe operating procedures and hazard identification should be offered to novice or limited- experience operators.

Heavy Equipment Owner/Operators Dying On The Job, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Kentucky Haz Alerts--Other

To prevent heavy equipment injuries:

• Owner/operators should become familiar with and adhere to Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health guidelines.
• Manufacturers’ procedures for operation and maintenance of heavy equipment should be followed.
• Avoid potentially hazardous situations. Operators should perform a thorough hazard assessment before work is initiated.

Propietarios/Operadores De Equipo Pesado Mueren En Su Trabajo, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Kentucky Haz Alerts--Motor Vehicle

Para prevenir lesiones al trabajar con equipo pesado:

1. Propietarios/operadores deberán familiarizarse y aplicar las normas de Seguridad y Salud Ocupacional de Kentucky.
2. Deberán ser seguidos los procedimientos indicados por el fabricante para la operación y mantenimiento de equipo pesado.
3. Evite situaciones que impliquen un riesgo potencial. Los operadores deberán llevar a cabo una valoración cuidadosa de los riesgos potenciales antes de iniciar el trabajo.