07.12.2011

Loading fatality

A man died in San Diego, California, yesterday after the boom lift he was unloading or loading, slipped off the side of the lowboy trailer.

The incident occurred in the Palm City area of the city, the man who would have been 59 on Saturday landed on his head when the machine went over, we do not know if he was thrown from the platfrom or managed to hit his head from within the basket.
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The boom slipped off the side of the low loader

He died at the scene from his injuries,Cal/OSHA is investigating the incident.
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The trailer was relatively low and was outside the rental yard

Vertikal Comment

Unloading aerial lifts – and other equipment, from delivery trucks can be one of the highest risk manoeuvres if not carried out with due care. Too many drivers still refuse to wear a harness and short lanyard when unloading in spite of the high risk of serious injury or death from being catapulted from the basket.

We do not know in this case if the man was wearing a harness or not, given the nature of the incident it might not have helped either way. Hopefully the publicising of such occurrences will make others sit up and take notice of how important it is to take the unloading of equipment very seriously.