The driveway construction site of a Sunset Avenue home in Concord in seen on Friday, Aug. 19, 2016. A worker died on the job Thursday after being struck by a construction vehicle. ELIZABETH FRANTZ / Monitor staff
Witness heard scream then ‘I think I killed him!’ at scene of fatal construction accident
By ALYSSA DANDREA
Friday, August 19, 2016
Concord, NH
A construction worker died on the job Thursday after being struck by a vehicle outside a home on Sunset Avenue in Concord.
Brian Sullivan, 45, of Pittsfield suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken by ambulance to Concord Hospital, where he later died, according to a statement from Concord police Lt. Tim O’Malley.
The incident occurred on private property at 12 Sunset Ave. and was reported about 3:30 p.m.
Sullivan was employed with William Young Excavation and Site Work of Bow, which specializes in paving, excavating, sealcoating and stamped asphalt. The Concord homeowner hired the company to construct a driveway, O’Malley said.
O’Malley said the Concord Police Department’s initial investigation found that Sullivan was pinned between two construction vehicles, one of which was stationary and the second of which backed up into him.
William Young Excavation declined to comment Friday about the incident but offered condolences to Sullivan’s family.
Police are not identifying the driver of the vehicle that struck Sullivan, citing an ongoing investigation. O’Malley said the driver’s name will be released once police determine whether they will file criminal charges.
The Sunset Avenue neighborhood was quiet Friday afternoon except for the occasional sounds made by contractors renovating the home next door to where the incident occurred. Peter Mellow, who will soon be moving into the newly refurbished home, said he was working in an upstairs room Thursday afternoon when he heard commotion outside.
Mellow said he heard someone scream. When he went next door to check things out, he said he heard a construction driver there say, “I think I killed him. I think I killed him.”
Mellow said he then saw a man lying behind a dump truck.
William Young Excavation had just started working at 12 Sunset Ave. on Thursday, he said.
The home has a paved driveway leading to a one-car garage. To the paved driveway’s left is a path of dirt and rock of similar width where construction crews were working Thursday. No one was on site Friday afternoon.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration opened up an investigation into the incident after responding to the home. The investigation will determine whether there were any violations of workplace safety standards in connection with Sullivan’s death, according to OSHA spokesman James Lally.
Lally said Friday it’s too early to say when the investigation will be complete.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them at 225-8600 or the Concord Regional Crimeline at 226-3100.
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AUGUST 19, 2016
CONCORD, N.H. —Police are investigating the cause of a fatal construction accident Thursday afternoon in Concord.
Brian Sullivan, 45, of Pittsfield, was struck by a piece of construction equipment while working on a driveway, police said. He was taken to Concord Hospital, where he died.
Sullivan was working for William Young Excavating Site Work, a company based in Bow, when the accident happened.
Police said that OSHA was notified about the accident and they responded to the scene.
No further details are being released at this time.
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William Young Excavation Sitework LLC - Excavation Work Contractors
Address:
13 Ogden Dr
Bow, New Hampshire 03304-4310
United States
William Young Excavation Sitework LL is a small, fairly new excavation work company in Bow, New Hampshire. It opened in 2012 and now has an estimated $280,000 in yearly revenue and approximately 3 employees.
A family history of hard work and dedication to quality.
Your driveway or your parking lot, no matter its size, is a big investment and a big part of the image your property projects. That's precisely why you may want to consider Young's Paving for your next project. Our decades of experience means that you are hiring a company that knows the business inside and out but, more importantly, knows that a job well done means continued success. Our focus is squarely on you, providing the very best service we know how. It's your project. And it means everything to our reputation.
A message from Richard Young, Sr.
My name is Richard Young Sr., owner of Young's Paving. My father, William Young, started paving in 1947. He established and operated the business for over 35 years. I worked alongside him for 20 years before taking over in 1983.
Now I operate the business with my four sons; William, Richard Jr., James, and Jon Young. Also the Fourth generation Young is now in training... William. We also provide a call-today/pave-tomorrow service for any size job on request.
We appreciate your business and look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
Richard Young, Sr.
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MARCH 30, 2015
Backing vehicles and equipment are a serious occupational hazard. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that, of the 443 struck-by fatalities at road construction sites between 2003 and 2010, 143 cases involved a vehicle or mobile equipment backing up.
To help prevent backover injuries and deaths, NIOSH recommends a number of standard operating procedures:
- Create and enforce an operating procedure that addresses how to work safely and lists best practices to follow when working near vehicles and other equipment.
- Establish safety procedures for working at night with backing equipment. Ensure high-visibility apparel is worn.
- Take precautions. Use equipment that creates minimal blind spots or has proximity warning devices.
- Before work begins, design the worksites to minimize or eliminate the need for backing vehicles and equipment.
- Hire a competent person to supervise worksites involving backing vehicles and equipment.
- Be sure drivers know not to back up equipment unless they are under the direction of a spotter.
- Use barrels, barricades, cones or reflective devices to guide vehicles and equipment away from workers.
- Post signs informing workers where it is safe to walk.
NIOSH states that before work begins, vehicle and equipment operators need to inspect their machinery for any issues. Ensure everything, including mirrors and windows, is clear and in good working order. If something is found to be defective, remove the vehicle or equipment from service until repairs are made.
When operating equipment, know its blind spots. If you lose contact with your spotter for any reason, immediately stop work.
NIOSH also notes that clear communication is key. “At the start of each shift, review communications signals (verbal, hand signals, flags) between spotters, machine operators, truck drivers, and workers on foot,” the agency states.
For workers on foot near backing vehicles or equipment, NIOSH recommends employees adhere to the following:
· Wear appropriate high-visibility personal protective equipment.
· Know the blind spots of vehicles and equipment you work near.
· Never approach a piece of equipment or vehicle without a clear signal of acknowledgment from the operator.
· Avoid areas where vehicles and equipment travel.
· Stay alert for the sound of reversing alarms.
· Avoid complacency. Always know your surroundings.
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VEHICLE & EQUIPMENT OPERATION : BACKING EQUIPMENT AND SNOWPLOWS
Vehicle backing accidents can happen at any time of the year, but when winter comes and there is snow to be cleared, this type of incident becomes even more likely.
It seems like every year a backing accident involving a motorist and county equipment occurs in Michigan, despite all the efforts of the County Road Commissions to avoid these problems.
However, you may also be interested to know that there are a number of backing accidents that occur in Road Commission garages and even in Road Commission yards. Often times, employees are injured or property is damaged.
Backing accidents are due to a great many factors, including poor visibility, blind spots, difficult terrain, and driver fatigue or inattentiveness. But, let’s face it, the motoring public generally doesn’t focus much attention on avoiding snowplows or other vehicles/equipment with which they share the road. So it is your responsibility as a Road Commission employee to take extra care while out on the road.
That makes avoiding an accident your responsibility, a responsibility that all county employees have to protect the public, but also a responsibility mandated by law.
There may be serious legal repercussions if you get into a vehicle backing accident, so even though you as an operator may be doing everything else correctly, you should still remember that you are the one driving the 160,000-pound truck. Let’s not dwell on the negative, however. The point of our discussion today is to make sure that everyone on the road gets home safely.
Here are some strategies that veteran drivers use to avoid vehicle backing accidents.
First of all, try to make a mental note of all the vehicles around you as you drive. If you see a motorist stop or turn off, then you can cross them off your list; but if not, then that vehicle is likely hiding somewhere in your blind spots or dead zone.
Use curves in the road to help you. When entering an intersection, come to a stop at an angle if it’s safe to do so. If it’s dark out, use reflected light from snow banks or trees as additional queues that a vehicle is behind you. Activate your lights and beacons so that you are more visible. Ensure that back up alarms are functioning properly.
Keep looking in your mirrors. Every few seconds you should be checking your mirrors. Remember to look and lean to see as much in your mirrors as possible. Stop and let the motorist pass before you begin clearing an intersection, but be aware that some motorists may get confused in these situations and may not react like you think they should.
Back slowly at first, again, keeping an eye out for anything behind you. Finally, if you are backing and you feel an unusual amount of resistance, or the back end of the truck begins to rise, stop immediately!
Check traffic so that you’re not going to be struck by a vehicle yourself, and get out and look.
The most important thing is to be ready! If you operate a snowplow or any other heavy equipment on or near the public right of way, it’s not a matter of if a motorist will come too close to you, it’s a matter of when. So stay alert and be ready. Most of all, remember to drive safely.