Animated videos following on-site investigations during work zone accidents and incidents.

NIOSH’s Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program is a research program designed to identify and study fatal occupational injuries.  The goal of the FACE program is to prevent occupational fatalities across the nation by identifying and investigating work situation at high risk for injury and then formulating and disseminating prevention strategies to those who can intervene in the workplace.  More FACE reports can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/.

The following are series of animated videos following on-site investigations during work zone accidents and incidents.  The videos follow the course of the accident and subsequent fatality and provide recommendations designed to control or eliminate the identified risk.  These animated videos were created by ARTBA as a part of the FHWA Cooperative Agreement DTFH61-11-H-00029.

Avoiding Fatalities: Police Officer Run Over by a Dump Truck

https://youtu.be/D4arVYsvTcM

On November 2, 2001, a 66-year-old male municipal police officer (the victim) was fatally injured while working a traffic detail (controlling traffic) at a highway construction site (work zone). The victim was on site to direct traffic around the work zone and to direct construction equipment entering and exiting the work area. 

The dump truck involved in the incident was loaded with asphalt and located inside the construction site. The task to be performed was to finish paving a small section of a turnout that was located inside the construction site immediately north of an intersection. The dump truck driver was asked by the general contractor to back to the unfinished section of the turnout approximately 1,000 feet away. 

The victim was standing at the edge of the construction work zone in the closed northbound right-hand travel lane. He was facing oncoming traffic and had his back to the backing dump truck when he was struck and backed over by the truck. Two witnesses, a mother and her child, stopped to report the incident. Calls were placed for emergency assistance and the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.  Taken from FACE summary – Massachusetts Case Report: 01-MA-039-01

Avoiding Fatalities: Engineering Technician Run Over and Killed by Backing Dump Truck

 
https://youtu.be/MoyI5wdmd4s

The victim, a 51yearold male engineering technician, was killed when he was backed over by a dump truck in a roadway work zone. The victim’s employer had subcontracted with a road construction company to provide engineering services throughout the project. The victim entered the work zone behind a dump truck that was backing towards an asphalt milling machine. He bent down to take measurements on the roadway. The truck’s operator did not see the victim. A lady walking her dogs on an adjacent sidewalk saw the victim behind the truck and heard a noise as the truck struck the victim. She ran into the street to alert the operator. The truck operator stopped, pulled forward a few feet and exited the vehicle. Upon seeing the victim lying in the street the truck operator ran to a nearby supervisor, who then called emergency service personnel. The local fire department responded and pronounced the victim dead at the scene. Taken from FACE summary – Nebraska Case Report: 04NE007

Avoiding Fatalities: Worker Dies After Being Run Over by a Caterpiller
http://youtu.be/zzP_MEFjdng

A 46 year old worker (victim) died of injuries he sustained after being run over by a caterpillar at a construction site. On the day of the incident, workers were preparing the base for new asphalt roadways in a residential housing development. The victim's job was to work near the caterpillar and advise the operator if the material being added was level or not in preparation for laying the curbing. The operator of the caterpillar was aware that the victim was working behind the caterpillar, but he didn't realize how close to the caterpillar he was. The operator of the caterpillar had been driving forward when he looked back and noticed that the victim had been run over.  Another coworker placed a 911 call and emergency personnel arrived shortly after being called and pronounced the victim dead at the scene.  Taken from FACE summary – Minnesota Case Report 97MN047

Avoiding Fatalities: Asphalt Roller Crushes Flagman
 
http://youtu.be/eWPgxyjouRI

A 20 year old road construction company flagman was crushed to death when he fell from and was subsequently run over by an asphalt roller.  Taken from FACE summary – Nebraska FACE Investigation 94NE059Avoiding Fatalities: Flagger Fatally Injured When Struck by a Car at a Highway Work Zone in Washington State
http://youtu.be/D_c_DOqEtik

On February 22, 2000, a 42 year old male maintenance technician, who was performing the duties of a traffic control flagger, died when he was struck by a car at a highway work zone. The flagger (the fatal victim), was working with a state maintenance team to install a new roadside information sign along a major two lane state highway. The driver of a small passenger vehicle may have been distracted, or was confused as she entered the work zone. The driver was not able to comprehend the flagger’s instructions and drove her vehicle straight at the victim. The vehicle struck the victim traveling at a reported speed of between 50 and 60 MPH. On impact, the victim struck the hood and windshield of the car, and then was thrown over the top of the vehicle before hitting the asphalt pavement along the highway. A witness who saw the incident immediately called 911 for emergency assistance. Emergency personnel treated the victim on site. He died from his injuries during transport to a local medical facility.  Taken from FACE summary – Washington Case Report 00WA011

Avoiding Fatalities: Three Construction Workers Killed After Being Struck by a Bus in a Highway Work Zone
 
https://youtu.be/GBkMKizfuKE

On May 20, 2005, three male construction workers, employed by a paving company, sustained fatal injuries when they were struck by a passenger bus in a highway work zone. The work zone, located in the southbound lane of a four lane divided interstate highway, was demarcated by the required orange traffic cones and warning signs. The southbound driving lane was closed and the passing lane was open to traffic. 

At approximately 10:00 a.m., a southbound charter bus passed multiple warning signs as it approached the work zone. The bus driver attempted to brake approximately 0.2 miles south of the beginning of the work zone and move left, partially onto the median’s shoulder, in an attempt to avoid striking the slowing vehicles ahead. Unable to move to the shoulder, the bus struck a motorcycle, hit the curb on the east side of the bridge, returned to the southbound passing lane and struck the rear of a tractor trailer.  

The bus entered the work zone and struck the three victims who were working at the rear of a cement truck. After hitting the victims, the bus struck the cement truck in the rear bumper. The bus and the cement truck traveled together for 51 to 58 feet and collided with a parked, unoccupied pickup truck. Immediately following the incident, the site supervisor called 911 to summon emergency medical services (EMS) who arrived at the site within minutes. One victim was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The other two victims were transported to a hospital where they both died. Two cement company employees and a NYSDOT inspector suffered minor injuries while escaping the collision. They were treated and released. The motorcyclist and six bus passengers were treated for injuries at a local hospital. The bus driver sustained critical injuries, was hospitalized, and later recovered.  Taken from FACE summary – New York Case Report 05NY039

Avoiding Fatalities: Inspector Run Over by an Asphalt Truck
http://youtu.be/YWW6zkjdLB8

A 36 year-old male construction inspector for the county died when an asphalt dump truck backed over him. The truck was bringing hot asphalt to a new road being constructed in a new housing project. The decedent was wearing an orange reflective vest and hardhat at the time of the incident. 


The asphalt dump truck was greater than 2.5 ton capacity and the back-up alarm was operational and functioning properly. The truck traveled approximately 770 feet in reverse before backing over the decedent. The decedent had his back to the vehicle. The truck driver stated he was traveling approximately 5 to 10 miles per hour when the incident occurred and that he never saw the decedent. 

Emergency medical personnel responded within seven minutes of being called and pronounced him dead at the scene.  Taken from FACE summary – California FACE Investigation 00CA005

Avoiding Fatalities:  Hispanic Laborer on Roadway construction Work Site Run Over and Killed by a Backing Flat Bed Dump Truck – North Carolina
 
http://youtu.be/LOeiLSmGSN4

On April 26, 2004, a 26 year old Hispanic laborer (the victim) was backed over by a flat bed dump truck while working on a roadway work site. The victim drove the truck westward through the work site, while a laborer threw brackets used to secure concrete barriers onto the ground. Once completed, the victim parked the truck and walked to the tailgate area, where he met up with the laborer. 

The victim and the laborer began walking eastward together, towards the rest of the crew, with the victim walking a few steps in front of the laborer.  Two other workers got into the truck to drive to another work site. Prior to leaving, the driver received a radio call that he could not understand. He placed the truck into reverse, to back towards the crew (east) to see what was needed. 

While walking, the laborer saw a carpenter running, waving his hands and yelling, and simultaneously he got a glimpse of the moving truck on his left side. The laborer jumped to his right and shouted a warning to the victim walking in front of him. After feeling a “thud,” the driver stopped. After getting out of the truck, he found the victim lying on the ground and called 911.  

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded and determined that the victim had multiple injuries and weak vital signs. The victim was transported by ambulance to a hospital, and was pronounced dead in the emergency room.  Taken from FACE summary – NIOSH In-house FACE Report 2004-11