Equipment operator crushed by skid -steer attachment—Kentucky

The following report is the product of our Cooperative State partner and is presented here in its original unedited form from the state. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the individual Cooperative State partner and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

SUMMARY

On September 29, 2022, a 46-year-old skid-steer operator was killed when he was struck by his skid-steer’s twin-fork attachment with a gravel bucket secured to it. The operator had raised the skid-steer’s arms and exited the cab. While the operator was beneath the attachment, it separated from the skid-steer’s lift arms and fell onto him.

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
Key contributing factors identified in this investigation include:

• Bypassing equipment safety features
• Workplace substance use
• Inadequate knowledge of hazards
• Inadequate training and communication

RECOMMENDATIONS
Kentucky FACE investigators concluded that, to help prevent similar occurrences, employers should:

• Ensure that employees do not bypass equipment safety features;
• Implement measures that contribute to a drug-free work environment;
• Identify and understand the hazards that may be presented by the equipment their employees operate;
• Provide education and training to employees to recognize hazards and methods to mitigate and/or eliminate them.

Equipment operator crushed by skid -steer attachment—Kentucky [PDF – 1,455 KB]