JEFFERSON TWP, PA — Authorities say a 51-year-old Butler area man was killed this morning when he was struck by a co-worker’s dump truck during a paving project.
State police are investigating but they did not release the man’s name. He was part of a crew for Wiest Asphalt Products & Paving.
The victim, who was wearing a bright yellow shirt, was behind a company truck on Great Belt Road in Jefferson Township about 7:30 a.m. when the truck accidentally backed over him, authorities said.
The crew was reportedly paving nearby Becker Road at the time.
Butler County Chief Deputy Coroner John Hanovick pronounced the man dead at 8:30 a.m. An autopsy was planned this afternoon
Hanovick said the preliminary cause of death is listed as massive injuries to the head and chest.
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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP, PA (KDKA) — A road crew worker was killed on the site of a paving project in Jefferson Township Tuesday morning.
It happened around 7:45 a.m. at the intersection of Great Belt Road and Becker Road.
State police say 51-year-old Donald Ray Moyer II, of Franklin Township, was part of the paving crew on a roadway paving project.
A work-site vehicle struck Moyer, killing him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Further details on the incident have not been released.
The investigation is ongoing.
Recommendations:
·
Brief all employees on the facts and
circumstances of this fatal incident.
·
In accordance with OSHA Construction Standards,
properly equip motor vehicles used in construction environments with audible
devices that may be heard over other sounds when being backed-up.
·
Revisit safety programs and JSA information to
ensure they are applicable to OSHA standards necessary for the work to be
performed.
·
Use a spotter when backing equipment near other
personnel as required.
·
Utilize high visibility outer garments.
·
Be aware of your surroundings.
·
Avoid wearing clothing or hooded garments which
limit your field of view.
·
Use of approved FRC helmet liners is preferred,
as they turn with your head.
·
Ensure that pre-tour safety meetings are
conducted to discuss the work to be performed, identifying the potential safety
hazards and implementing safe work procedures to control hazards.
·
Ensure the safety meeting information is
provided to all employees.
Preventing Backovers
A backover incident occurs when a backing vehicle strikes a
worker who is standing, walking, or kneeling behind the vehicle. These
incidents can be prevented. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over
70 workers died from backover incidents in 2011. These kinds of incidents can
occur in different ways. For example:
On June 18, 2009, an employee was working inside a work
zone wearing his reflective safety vest. A dump truck operating in the work
zone backed up and struck the employee with the rear passenger side wheels. The
employee was killed. The dump truck had an audible back up alarm and operating
lights. (OSHA Inspection Number 313225377)
On June 9, 2010, an employee was standing on the ground
in front of a loading dock facing into the building while a tractor trailer was
backing into the same dock. The trailer crushed the employee between the
trailer and the dock. (OSHA Inspection Number 314460940)
The purpose of this webpage is to provide information about the
hazards of backovers; solutions that can reduce the risk or frequency of these
incidents; articles and resources; and references to existing regulations and
letters of interpretation.
How do backover incidents occur?
Backover accidents can happen for a variety of reasons. Drivers
may not be able to see a worker in their blind spot. Workers may not hear backup alarms because of other worksite noises
or because the alarms are not
functioning. A spotter assisting one truck may not see another truck behind
him. Workers riding on vehicles may fall off
and get backed over. Drivers may assume that the area is clear and not
look in the direction of travel (PDF*). Sometimes, it is unclear
why a worker was in the path of a backing vehicle. A combination of factors can also lead to
backover incidents.
What can be done to prevent backover incidents?
Many solutions exist to prevent backover incidents. Drivers can
use a spotter to help them back up their vehicles. Video cameras with
in-vehicle display monitors can give drivers a view of what is behind them.
Proximity detection devices, such as radar and sonar, can alert drivers to
objects that are behind them. Tag-based systems can inform drivers when other
employees are behind the vehicle and can alert employees when they walk near a
vehicle equipped to communicate with the tag worn by the employee. On some work
sites, employers can create internal traffic control plans, which tell the
drivers where to drive and can reduce the need to back up. In some cases,
internal traffic control plans can also be used to separate employees on foot
from operating equipment.
Training is another tool to prevent backover incidents. Blind
spots behind and around vehicles are not immediately obvious to employees on
foot. By training employees on where those blind spots are and how to avoid
being in them, employers can prevent some backover incidents. One component of
this training can include putting employees who will be working around vehicles
in the driver’s seat to get a feel for where the blind spots are and what,
exactly, the drivers can see. The National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH) several blind spot diagrams that can help explain what
drivers of various large trucks can see.
Vehicles Causing the Most Backover Fatalities
2005-2010+
Dump Truck
|
67
|
Semi/Tractor Trailer
|
40
|
Truck
|
30
|
Forklift
|
21
|
Garbage Truck
|
20
|
Pick-up Truck
|
16
|
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HOW TO PREVENT VEHICLE BACKOVER INJURIES AND DEATHS
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.