| Case Name |
The accident of falling steel footblock because of wrongly using the backhoe |
| Pictograph |
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| Date |
December 2002 |
| Place |
Shizuoka Prefecture |
| Location |
The bridge substructure construction. |
| Overview |
When the operator was accumulating steel footblocks by using the backhoe, the victim entered the work zone and touched a steel block and fell. After that, the operator attempted to lift the steel blocks. But it fell on the victim's feet. He broke his cervical vertebra and little toe of his right foot and his knee mandible bone and the fibula of his left foot. |
| Incident |
The victim entered the work zone to remove the color cone near steel blocks when the operator was about to drag the backhoe side of steel block by making it floated with the chain wire. The operator didn't notice that the victim had entered the work zone, so he dragged the steel block. The victim touched it and fell there. The operator noticed that the victim had touched steel block, so he intended to quickly lift the steel block. But, the balance of the backhoe was lost and the steel block fell on the victim's feet. |
| Sequence |
1.The operator was about to move the steel block by dragging it with the backhoe.
2.The victim entered the work zone of the backhoe to remove the color cone near the steel block which was meant to be moved by the operator.
3.The operator didn't notice that the victim had entered the work zone.
4.Right after that, the steel block touched the victim's calf, and he fell on there.
5.The operator noticed that the victim had fallen, so he attempted to lift steel block. But, the balance of the backhoe was lost then, and the steel block fell on the victim's feet. |
| Cause |
1.The operator carried out the wrong (suspension) work by using the backhoe.
2.The operator neglected the safe confirmation of the circumference in the backhoe operation.
3.The victim entered the work zone of the heavy machine carelessly. |
| Response |
1.The contractor which caused the accident took the following countermeasures about a whole field of this construction.
* They have to reinforce the patrol in the site, and check each work zone frequently. If they thought that the place is dangerous, the improvement is required.
* In the morning assembly, they make responsible workers announce the detail of the work in the day and the safety precautions, and improve workers' consciousness for the safety.
2.The contractor which caused the accident took the following countermeasures for the same work in the construction.
* They must strongly prohibit wrong use of the backhoe thoroughly.
* To strongly prohibit entering the work zone thoroughly when a heavy machine work is done.
* To confirm the safety in terms of back and forth, right and left before the heavy machine work. |
| Countermeasures |
The owner gathered contractors related to the road construction, and held the urgent safety consultation. In the consultation, they reported the accident and announced the safe inspection of the whole construction site, for example `to strongly prohibit the wrong use of the backhoe' `to improve consciousness for safety by the safety education' etc. |
| Knowledge Comment |
1.The wrong use of the backhoe may cause the accident.
2.When a worker enters the work zone of a heavy machine unavoidably, he needs to communicate with the operator.
3.The operator must not neglect the safety confirmation when he operate a heavy machine. |
| Background |
1.When the accident happened, the worker in charge attended the meeting and left the site.
2.The operator had 27 years experience as a construction worker. And, he had worked for 25 years after he got a driver license of car-system, construction equipment.
3.The victim had experienced for 30 years as a construction worker. And, he had worked for 1 year after he got a license of the slinging work.
4.In suspension work using a crane, the workers had capsulated in advance crane positions, suspension tools to use, the maximum load of the suspension load, and the work zone, with using `the arrangement table' of the crane work in each work unit. |
| Reason for Adding to DB |
1This is the case that the wrong use of a backhoe caused the accident.
2.This is the case that entering a dangerous zone carelessly caused the accident. |
| Scenario |
| Primary Scenario
|
Poor Value Perception, Poor Safety Awareness, Carelessness, Insufficient Precaution, Malicious Act, Rule Violation, Regular Movement, Dangerous Movement, Usage, Operation/Use, Bodily Harm, Injury
|
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| Number of Deaths |
0 |
| Number of Injuries |
1 |
| Field |
Civil Engineering
|
| Author |
MIZOGUCHI, Hiroki (National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management)
|
