Worker Dies After Being Run Over by a Front-End Loader

A 31-year-old worker (victim) died of injuries he sustained after being run over by a front-nd loader at a construction site. The loader was equipped with an audible back-up alarm, however it was not working at the time of the incident. On the day of the incident, the loader was being used to transport chunks of broken asphalt and concrete to a rock crushing machine. The operator of the front-end loader was aware that the victim was working near the rock crusher, but didn’t realize that he was walking in the area where he was operating the loader. The operator of the front-end loader had been driving backwards, down an earthen ramp and across the work site, when he felt that he had run over something. As he continued to back-up he observed the victim lying near the front of the loader. Another coworker placed a 911 call and emergency personnel arrived shortly after being called. They pronounced the victim dead at the scene. MN FACE investigators concluded that, in order to reduce the likelihood of similar occurrences, the following guidelines should be followed:

• mobile equipment should be equipped with an audible back-up alarm as well as sensing units to detect pedestrian workers in the blind spots of equipment operators;
• employers should ensure that equipment is always maintained in the proper working condition;
• employers should ensure that heavy equipment is driven in a forward direction as much as possible; and
• employers should design, develop, and implement a comprehensive safety program.