Preventing Struck By Incidents

R. Casey Perkins, CSPOSHA

Austin Area Office

Texas Statistics FY 2017Source of Injury

Crushed By Electrocution Falls Struck By Unknown Other

Fatal Falls 26%

Struck By 25%

Other 15%

Electrocution 10%

Crushed By 11%

Unknown 12%

186 total fatalities

Local StatisticsType of Event Number (Percent)

Falls 3 (23%)

Struck By 8 (61%)

Heat Stress 1 ( 7%)

Other 1 (7%)

• 13 total fatalities in Austin’s office’s 34 counties between Oct. 1, 2017 and Sept. 26, 2018

Struck By Incident 1-20-17

• The Superintendent for a road crew was operating a Crawler Dozer to free up the assigned Operator to use another piece of heavy equipment and grading some compacted soil on the side of a roadway where another lane was being added. The superintendent was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from his seat and subsequently pulled under the tracks of the dozer, crushing him to death.

1-20-17

1-20-17

1-20-17

Struck By Incident 9-5-17

• A worker was struck by a motor grader while he was picking up wood and roots from the pipeline right of way after land clearing activities

9-5-17

9-5-17

What Can the Operator See?

Root Causes

• Situational awareness – Know what is around you

• Distractions – Cell phones, ear buds• Blind spots – Not the same for all

equipment, and workers are not aware they are not seen

5’13’

19’

21’

19’

26’

45’

19’

78’

53’

Lookingover

toolbox

38’Looking over headrest

thru side window

Footprint of Blind Spots Around a Typical Work Truck

Note: Measurements taken on flat ground with Dodge D1500 Supercab, with & without toolbox and 5’ 7” driver.

Distances shown are the point at which driver can see the ground.

Passenger Side Blind Spot

Anything “hiding” in this area?

3’4”2’9”

Passenger Side Blind Spot

‘could be…

Blind Spots for Front End Loader

Blind Spots for Bulldozer

Worker Training

• Workers should assume they are not seen by equipment operators.

• Use manufacturer’s information and operator’s manual for best practices on working around moving equipment

• Incorporate moving equipment safety into daily JSA’s.

• Conduct on-site inspections to verify safe oeprations.

Abatement Methods

• Proximity alarms• Cameras with 360 degree views

Camera & Radar Technology Devices

Wireless Back Up Camera

360 Degree Cameras

Questions?

• R. Casey Perkins• OSHA• Austin Area Office• 512-374-0274