Fatality Alert

On January 31st, a 23 year old man was killed after being run over by an empty logging truck that he and a co-worker were trying to repair. Both workers were driving the logging truck to a camp south of Fraser Lake when they stopped to fix a mechanical issue.

Our condolences go out to the family and co-workers of the deceased worker.

WorkSafeBC and the Coroners Service are investigating this incident and the results will be released as soon as possible.

There has been an increased frequency of incidents related to improperly securing vehicles before doing maintenance work. On October 14, 2015, an incident occurred in Ladysmith when a worker was fatally injured while preforming repairs on a service truck. The truck was parked on a slope and began to roll while the worker was underneath.

The industry has also seen an increase in fatal incidents involving young log truck drivers. On February 11, 2015, a 24 year old log truck driver died in the crash involving two logging trucks on the Alaska Highway. On January 26th, a 22 year old log truck driver was fatally injured in an incident on Highway 5A when the unloaded logging truck he was driving went off the road.

These recent incidents highlight the need for proper training of young log truck drivers with a focus on driving during winter road conditions and properly securing the log truck when preforming maintenance or inspections.

Although the details of this incident are still unknown, review the following general safety information:

1. Pre-trip inspections are required for all equipment. A thorough inspection will identify mechanical problems that could be hazardous and slow down production. Pick a safe location for the inspection with adequate lighting, flat ground, and not crowded with other equipment or workers.
2. When working on wheeled equipment, set the maxi/emergency brake before exiting the cab. When repairing the machine, use chocking blocks to prevent movement; if blocks are not available, use some large rocks or wood. This is critically important when your task requires you to be under the vehicle.
3. An upset condition is any event that is unplanned. This can be a mechanical breakdown, unexpected weather, or a change in the work plan. Most incidents happen when there is an upset condition. Pause and plan your work carefully before trying to fix these conditions.

Resources:

• Safety Alert - "Chock it - Block it - Lock it" Immobilize your equipment
  /node/1337
• Lock Out Resource Package
  /files/res_Lockout.pdf
• Integrated Trucking Log Book – Example log books that will help with pre and post trip mechanical inspections
  /forestry_trucksafe/tools_truckers/log_book.html
• Log Truck Roll Over and Seatbelt Video
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_kH7mIuUjk
• More Info on Upset Conditions and RADAR
  /node/1521
• Print Copy of this alert for crew meetings or posting
  /files/BCFSC-FatalityAlert-2016-01-31.pdf