Fatality Alert

On February 11, 2019 a worker was fatally injured when the pickup truck he was working on moved unexpectedly and he was run over. The incident occurred in the 100 Mile House area.

We extend our condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and our sympathies to all those affected by this incident.

This is the fourth work related death in the last 3 years where a worker has been struck or run over by a vehicle that they were working on. This is the first harvesting fatality of 2019.

While this incident is still under investigation and details are still to be determined, please review the following safety information:

1. In the winter, vehicles are often left running to warm up or light up work areas. Vehicles left running must be secured properly including parking in a level location, automatic transmissions put into park, and emergency brake engaged. Use secondary methods to secure vehicles, like wheel chocks or blocking, which will prevent the vehicle from moving if brakes or other equipment fails.
    
2. Vehicles with standard transmissions left in neutral rely even more on the emergency brake to keep them in place. Use wheel chocks and test emergency brakes regularly to make sure they work properly.
    
3. When doing maintenance on a vehicle use a properly set up shop if possible. Winter conditions, uneven ground and darkness add to the risks involved. Never work under a vehicle alone, have a work partner nearby to help if necessary.
    
4. Fatigue can cause routine tasks to become high risk activities. When tired, steps can be forgotten and hazards can be missed or not understood. Recognize when you or your co-workers are fatigued and take steps to support good decision-making.
    
5. When working alone, use a check-in procedure. Even when stepping out of your cab or pickup to do a quick job, it’s advisable to let someone know. Incidents can happen very quickly and having someone who can respond to help you out is important.
    
6. Check out the following alert that provides guidance on working around and underneath vehicles /node/3230