FACE Investigation # 02WI054
Farmer Dies When Pinned Between Arm and Frame of A Skid Steer Loader
Summary
Figure 1. View of Skidsteer Loader from Operator's
Manual. |
FACE investigators concluded that, to help prevent similar occurrences, farmers
and employers should:
Additionally, farm safety resources should:
Use agricultural news media programs, publications and community gatherings as opportunities to distribute information about working safely with skid steer loaders.
Introduction
On August 14, 2002, a 73 year-old dairy farmer (victim) was pinned between the arm of the skid steer loader and the machine frame. On August 17, 2002, Wisconsin FACE investigators learned about the incident via the newspaper. The death certificate was reviewed and subsequently the sheriff’s report and the coroner’s report were reviewed. An investigation was initiated. On June 13, 2003 the FACE Director and the Field Investigator conducted a visit to the farm where the incident occurred. The victim’s wife reviewed the incident and demonstrated the operation of the skid steer loader.
The victim had been engaged in farming his entire life. He enjoyed farming and was liked by everyone, helping neighbors when they needed him. He knew how to fix and repair machines and worked on the loader shortly before he died. He raised 150-200 chickens and rabbits, and had a cash crop of peas and also raised sweet corn on this dairy farm. He learned to operate farm machines through on the job experience. The farm family owned the skid steer loader that was used for a variety of tasks on the farm.
The victim bought the Case Model 1825 skid steer loader new approximately 15 years ago. The skid loader did not have an interlock on it to prevent it from being lowered when the operator was not seated inside the cab area. The victim had been observed operating the bucket from outside the cab on previous occasions. He was aware of the practice for safety operation of the loader attachments from the manufacturers and dealers information.
Investigation
The victim used the skid loader almost every day for a variety of tasks on the farm. On the day of the incident, he was in the process of removing the fork from the loader and replacing it with the bucket. The victim came into the house and told his wife what he planned to do. He left and when he didn’t return within his usual time, she left the house and went to check on him. She found him in the area where he had been working on the skid loader, with his head and left arm pinned between the arm of the skid loader and the machine. He was in a kneeling position in front of the skid loader that was still running. The safety bars were not in place. A neighbor notified EMS and the victim was pronounced dead upon arrival at a nearby hospital.
Cause Of Death
The cause of death was determined to be due to crushing head injuries as a consequence of being pinned between the arms and body of the skid steer loader.
Recommendations/Discussion
Recommendation #1: Farmers and other skid steer loader operators should remain seated in the operator’s compartment while operating the loader.
Discussion: Skid steer loaders are designed and manufactured to be operated from the operator’s cab. Safety devices such as safety bars, seat belts, metal cage sides and rollover protection structures (ROPS) are all intended to protect the operator from injury while seated in the cab. In this case, the victim exited the cab and operated the hydraulic arm controls from the outside. The bucket came down and pinned the victim against the frame. The incident would have been prevented if he had remained in the loader cab.
Recommendation #2: Farmers and other skid steer loader operators should operate
the loader with the seat belt fastened and restraint bars down in place.
Discussion: Seat belts and interlocked restraint bars are intended to protect skid steer loader operators from serious injury caused by jolts, overturns and being pinned by the equipment. The victim in this incident defeated the restraint bar system by exiting the cab and was able to operate the hydraulic arm.
Recommendation #3: Farmers and farm workers with functional limitations caused
by illness or injury should seek and use the services of organizations and agencies
that provide technical assistance and/or adaptive equipment to agricultural
workers with disabling conditions.
Discussion: Farm machinery, including skid steer loaders, is designed and manufactured for use by individuals with full functional capacity. Physically disabling conditions such as illness or injury can impair a farm worker’s ability to operate a machine safely when carrying out his or her work duties. Technical assistance in designing and fitting adaptive equipment is available from agricultural safety specialists including agricultural engineers, state vocational rehabilitation counselors, agricultural equipment and supply manufacturers, and Extension programs that serve people with physical disabilities.
Recommendation #4: Use agricultural news media programs, publications and
community gatherings as opportunities to distribute information about working
safely with skid steer loaders.
Discussion: Farmers incorporate new methods and machines, such as skid steer loaders, into their work sites to reduce manual labor effort and increase production. Reliable farm safety information is available from expert resources, such as extension agents, university agricultural engineering departments, farm insurance agents and occupational safety research groups to assist farmers in safely adapting the new technology to their unique needs. The information must be repeated and offered through multiple channels to reach the full- intended audience. The reports of farm safety focus groups reveal farmers’ interest in the details of injury-causing incidents in their state, as well as timely information about preventing similar incidents on their farm. They are more likely to heed the information if a financial incentive is also attached. Information from a variety of sources must give a consistent message.
References
Wisconsin Fatal Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program
Staff members of the FACE Project of the Wisconsin Division of Public Health, Bureau of Occupational Health, conduct FACE investigations when a machine-related, youth worker, Hispanic worker, highway work-zone death, farmers with disabilities or cultural and faith-based communities work-related fatality is reported. The goal of these investigations is to prevent fatal work injuries studying: the working environment, the worker, the task the worker was performing, the tools the worker was using, the energy exchange resulting in fatal injury and the role of management in controlling how these factors interact.
To contact Wisconsin
State FACE program personnel regarding State-based FACE reports, please
use information listed on the Contact Sheet on the NIOSH FACE web site. Please
contact In-house FACE
program personnel regarding In-house FACE reports and to gain assistance
when State-FACE program personnel cannot be reached.