Thursday, February 19, 2009

a Self-Propelled Sprayer After Sprayer Struck an Oncoming Semi-Truck Trailer

A 53-year-old male custom applicator for a farm cooperative died when he was ejected from a front-boom, self-propelled sprayer he was operating after the sprayer struck a semi-truck trailer at an intersection. The decedent was the driver of the sprayer and was not wearing a seat belt. The decedent was traveling westbound and ran a stop sign. A semi-truck traveling southbound had the right of way. The sprayer struck the trailer of the truck. After striking the trailer, the decedent was ejected from the sprayer and landed in a ditch by the side of the road’s southbound lane. Emergency response was called and transported him to a local hospital where he died an hour later.

Recommendations:

  • Employers should require employees to wear seat belts or seatbelt/shoulder harness restraints when the equipment is equipped with these personal restraint systems.
  • Employers should include the seat belt requirement in their safety manual and safety training programs.
  • Employers should develop a fleet safety program specific to the vehicles driven on-the-road by employees.
  • Each farm cooperative should form a joint Health and Safety (H&S) Committee.

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