APRIL 14, 2015
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and
Health Administration’s Omaha office has opened an investigation into the
report of a worker’s death, Saturday, April 9. The 26-year-old worker, who has
been identified as Craig Anderson, of Columbus, was part of a Gehring
Construction & Ready Mix Co. crew working at Lake Socorro, just west of
Highway 15, near Schuyler, Nebraska, when the incident occurred shortly before
8 a.m.
Initial reports indicated that Anderson was driving a
payloader while attempting to free a cement truck that had become stuck by
pulling the vehicle with a chain. The chain snapped and struck Anderson, who
was pronounced dead at the scene.
Struck-by injuries are produced by forcible contact or
impact between the injured person and an object or piece of equipment.
“These types of incidents are preventable. It is the
responsibility of the employer to ensure that employees working in construction
are trained on awareness of struck by hazards, how to avoid struck by incidents,
and using proper tools and equipment,” said Bonita Winingham, OSHA’s Area
Director in Omaha. “Our condolences are with his family and friends who have
suffered an irreplaceable loss.”
Danger from flying objects occurs when using power tools, or
activities like pushing, pulling, or prying, may cause objects to become
airborne. Actions that can be taken to avoid these hazards include, inspecting
tools and equipment to see that all components are in good conditions, use the
appropriate tools for the job, wear appropriate personal protective equipment
such as, hard hats, safety glasses, goggles, etc.
Fatal work injuries involving contractors accounted for 17
percent of all fatal workplace injuries in 2013.
Columbus-based Gehring has previously been cited by OSHA in
September 2012 and issued three serious violations for lack of lockout/tagout
procedures and training employees on chemical hazards. The company resolved the
citations and paid a penalty of $8820.
OSHA has a Regional Emphasis Program to educate employers
and workers about struck-by hazards associated with vehicles and preventing
such tragic incidents and also provides safety guidelines for employers and
workers.
Struck-by injuries and fatalities are caused by conventional
vehicles, forklifts, semi-trucks and other moving industrial equipment, such as
cranes and yard trucks. OSHA has a Regional Emphasis Program in Missouri, Iowa,
Kansas and Nebraska, with the goal of educating employers and workers about the
hazards associated with the operation of motorized equipment in construction,
general and maritime industries.
Of the 37 vehicle-related fatal incidents inspected by the
OSHA Kansas City Region during fiscal years 2008 through March 2013, 57 percent
involved a vehicle striking a worker in the area. In the remaining 43 percent,
the operator was the victim.