LESSONS LEARNED
As reported by ctpost (full story) the operator of a mini-excavator was killed when he was ejected from his seat and pinned by the equipment against a one-story house on Sunshine Circle.
The operator was excavating the grade in the yard but he was not wearing a seat belt. He was digging uphill when he was ejected and the machine then rolled backwards, pinning him between the equipment and the house.
The rescue took only 12 minutes but the first responders could find no pulse. He suffered serious injuries to his chest and he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
Seat belts must be provided AND USED by all workers using earth moving equipment such as loaders and excavators. This tragic incident could have had a very different outcome had the operator been wearing his seat belt.
To read the full story at ctpost.com click here.
Use regular safety meetings as a tool to provide reminders to your crews about everything, even the small stuff! It's okay to remind everyone to remember to wear their seat belt, and let them know not wearing a seat belt is not an option.
