A 54-year-old construction laborer was fatally injured when he was run over by a motor grader on a road construction project in a housing development. According to the NIOSH FACE Report (2002-03), the incident happened as the grader operator was backing the machine down the road.
OVERVIEW OF THE INCIDENT
The victim and a coworker were standing behind their parked pickup truck discussing the next phase of their work. At the same time, the grader operator began reversing in their direction. The coworker noticed the machine backing toward them and shouted for the operator to stop, but the operator did not hear the warning.
The rear tire of the grader struck the victim, knocking him to the ground. The operator stopped only after the grader hit the rear of the parked pickup truck. The victim was found underneath the rear tire.
The coworker told the operator to pull forward and immediately called 911. EMS and police arrived within minutes and provided emergency medical care. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital but died approximately 90 minutes after the incident.
KEY LESSONS LEARNED
- Back-up alarms and horns must be installed and working. Operators should perform daily inspections to verify that all warning devices, lights, and alarms are fully functional before operating equipment.
- If the operator cannot clearly see behind the machine, do NOT move it. Earthmoving and compacting equipment with obstructed rear visibility must have an operational back-up alarm or use a trained spotter.
- Drive forward whenever possible. Planning work so heavy equipment moves forward more often reduces the risk of backing incidents.
- Employers must implement a comprehensive safety program. This includes training operators, establishing traffic control procedures, and ensuring spotters and workers on foot understand safe positioning around heavy machinery.
USE THIS IN A SAFETY MEETING
Weekly safety meetings are an ideal time to remind operators and ground crews about backover hazards. Reinforce the basics:
- Conduct daily equipment inspections.
- Test back-up alarms and horns before use.
- Maintain communication between operators and spotters.
- Never assume an operator sees you.
Backover incidents happen quickly and can be fatal. Consistent reminders help keep everyone alert, aware, and safe.
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