A Colorado farmhand is killed when a tractor rolls over him.
Authors
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Source
Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, FACE 95CO082, 1996 Mar; :1-2
Abstract
The 50-year-old farmhand was killed while attempting to jump-start a Case model 1270 tractor. The victim was standing between the front and rear wheels of the tractor while he used the handle of a pair of pliers to short-circuit the terminals on the tractors starter. The tractor was in gear when the engine was started. The vehicle lurched forward, knocking the victim to the ground. The rear wheels rolled over his left leg knocking him to the ground. The tractor had a wheat drill (planter) attached to the tow bar. The wheat drill was pulled over the victim's lower extremities, abdominal region and thoracic region. The farm owner noticed the driverless tractor turning in circles in the field. When he investigated, he discovered the victim. A local ambulance was called and the victim was transported to the local hospital where he expired in the emergency room. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) investigator concluded that to prevent future similar occurrences, employers should: 1. Ensure that employees are familiar with all safety features on equipment that they will operate. 2. Post bilingual signs on equipment to designate that a safety hazard exists. 3. Survey the work site to identify hazards. All employees should then be informed of the possible hazards and encouraged to report any unsafe work conditions.
Keywords
Region-8; Accident-analysis; Accident-prevention; Accidents; Injuries; Injury-prevention; Traumatic-injuries; Work-operations; Work-analysis; Work-areas; Work-performance; Work-practices; Safety-education; Safety-equipment; Safety-measures; Safety-monitoring; Protective-measures; Personal-protection; Agricultural-industry; Agricultural-machinery; Agricultural-workers; Agriculture
Document Type
Field Studies; Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation
Funding Type
Cooperative Agreement
NTIS Accession No.
PB2009-100516
Identifying No.
FACE-95CO082; Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U60-CCU-808518
Source Name
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Performing Organization
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
