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Seasonal lawn mower operator crushed and dies after lawn mower rolls over on a 30 degree slope.

University of Kentucky

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 15KY041, 2016 Aug; :1-7

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/stateface/ky/15ky041.html

20049566

On July 24, 2015, a 22-year-old lawn mower operator was killed when he was involved in a lawn mower rollover incident. The victim was mowing horizontally on a hill with a 30 degree slope when his mower slid down the hill and rolled onto him. Landscaper crewmembers also working in the area discovered the victim pinned beneath the mower at the bottom of the slope and immediately removed the lawn mower from on top of the victim, discovering he was deceased. The medical examiner identified the cause of death as asphyxia caused by chest compression. Contributing Factors: Key contributing factors identified include: 1. Operating a riding mower on a slope that exceeds manufacturer's specifications. 2. The SCAG turf tiger riding mower was not equipped with a rollover protection structure. 3. The employee was working alone. Recommendations for Prevention: 1. Never operate a lawn mower on a slope that exceeds the angle limits specified by the lawn mower manufacturer; use lawn maintenance equipment designated for steep slopes. 2. To prevent rollover injuries, riding lawn mowers should be equipped with roll-over protective structures (ROPS) and seat belts. 3. Employees should receive safety training on slope mowing with riding lawn mowers that includes slope calculation, manufacturer specifications, and terrain assessment. 4. Employers should consider implementing a buddy system when working in hazardous areas such as steep slopes.

Region-4; Accident-analysis; Accident-potential; Accident-prevention; Accidents; Injuries; Injury-prevention; Fatalities; Traumatic-injuries; Landscape services workers; Lawn and garden equipment; Equipment operators; Equipment design; Equipment operation; Rollover protective structures; ROPS; Safety practices; Safety belts; Safety equipment; Author Keywords: Landscaping; Mowing; Steep slope; ROPS

20160808

Field Studies; Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation

Cooperative Agreement

2016

PB2017-102182

FACE-15KY041; Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U60-OH-008483

NAICS-56

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

KY; WV

University of Kentucky