PAINTER DIED WHEN ELEVATED SCISSOR LIFT TIPPED TO SIDE WHEN TIRE ENTERED PAVEMENT DEPRESSION
SUMMARY
In the summer of 2013, a male painter
in his 30s died when the tire of the elevated Economy Wildcat SP1200 scissor
lift in which he was working entered a depression in a parking
lot caused by a recessed storm drain and tipped
to its side.
The decedent and his coworker were elevated approximately 15 feet in the scissor lift while they painted a building’s eaves/fascia. To protect the ground from
paint overspray, the workers laid opaque plastic on the asphalt pavement. The plastic covered a storm drain grate,
which was recessed 4½ inches.
The workers noticed an area that had been missed during their
painting work, so the lift had to be moved back to the
missed area on the fascia. Both workers knew the storm drain grate was nearby
but thought it was several feet away. While the lift was elevated, the decedent was in charge of the operating
the lift.
While in the process
of backing the lift to the missed area of fascia, the lift’s left rear tire entered the 4½-inch storm drain depression, which was located approximately 20 feet away from the building causing
the lift to tip to its side toward the building.
The decedent’s coworker
jumped from the lift as it was falling and received non-fatal injuries.
The decedent stayed in the lift
basket and struck the ground, receiving
head injuries. Emergency response was called and the decedent was
transported to a local hospital where he
died two days later from his head injuries.
Factors which contributed to this fatal incident
include:
·
Site hazard (drain and associated deteriorated surrounding pavement) was identified but corrective measures not undertaken
·
Unmarked
site hazard covered when pavement and drain were covered with
plastic
·
The lift was elevated
when it entered the storm drain depression
·
Spotter was not
used while operating the elevated
lift
RECOMMENDATIONS
·
Assure work areas are inspected for hazards and take corrective actions to eliminate
the identified hazards before and during operation of an aerial
lift.
·
Employers should ensure that workers
who operate self-propelled elevated lifts are adequately instructed in how to perform
their duties and trained
to safely operate the lift. Training should include, but not be limited
to: a) how to perform a
work area inspection to identify and minimize identified hazards; b) how to operate
the lift in an elevated position; c) how to perform a pre-shift inspection that includes
a visual and operational check; and d) report to management when the lift does not pass a visual or operational check.
·
Employers should maintain
equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
·
Employers should develop
formal, written and specific equipment instructions to be used as
training tool to ensure employees receive consistent training.
·
Employers should, in addition to developing and implementing a health and safety program,
develop mechanisms to ensure
adherence to the health and safety program by both management and employees. One approach is ensuring the company’s
culture has safety as
a core value.
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An image of a better-conditioned Economy Wildcat scissor lift is shown below.
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An image of a better-conditioned Economy Wildcat scissor lift is shown below.
