Arms of log processor crush worker during maintenance
Summary
A supervisor in a cable logging firm was troubleshooting an electrical problem with the dangle-head of a log processor. The log processor was not shut off or safely de-energized during the troubleshooting process. When the supervisor grabbed some electrical wires, the delimb arms closed on him, causing serious injuries. Air evacuation was not possible because of the approaching darkness and the weather conditions. The supervisor died before he reached the hospital.
Conclusions
Findings as to causes
- The supervisor died from injuries sustained when the delimb arms on the log processing head he was working on closed on him. The arms closed as a result of a dead short in the electrical system, which occurred when the supervisor squeezed together the bare connections of wires inside the head's encoder box.
- Maintenance work was performed on energized equipment. The log processor was not de-energized and locked out as required.
- The supervisor's injuries might have been survivable if he had reached hospital within a short time. Air evacuation was not possible because of the approaching darkness and the weather conditions. The worksite was over two hours' drive from the nearest hospital.
2021-04-22 20:42:33