Laborer Run Over by Dump Truck at Roadway Resurfacing Operation – Virginia

On July 7, 1998, a 35-year-old male laborer (the victim) was run over by a dump truck during resurfacing operations on a two-lane municipal road. The victim, part of an eight person paving crew, was assigned to rake and finish the edge of the abutment between the new pavement and the existing concrete curb. For an unknown reason, the victim left the curbside of the road, walked around the front of the paving machine, and continued walking back along the road centerline. At the same time a dump truck, leaving the work zone, was traveling behind the victim in the adjacent lane. As the truck approached, the victim walked in front of the truck’s right front bumper. He was not seen by the truck driver, and was struck and run over by the right front wheel of the truck. Co-workers yelled to the truck driver to stop; however, the driver did not immediately hear the warnings and continued to drive forward until the rear wheels of the truck contacted the victim’s foot. When he heard the co-workers’ shouts he stopped the truck and was directed to back up to free the victim. Co-workers notified emergency medical personnel who responded within 12 minutes. Resuscitation procedures were initiated and the victim was transported to a local hospital where he died approximately 1/2 hour after arrival.NIOSH investigators concluded that to prevent similar incidents in the future, employers should:

• ensure that workers remain clear of moving equipment and that only those workers necessary to the job at hand be in the area
• consider the use of electronic signaling devices or sensors to warn equipment operators of the presence of pedestrians in the blind spots of mobile equipment
• consider providing and requiring pedestrian workers to wear high visibility headgear of standardized color, and;

Employers, manufacturers, and regulators should:

• carefully evaluate the placement of auxiliary equipment in vehicle cabs.