Date of incident: November 2016
Notice of incident number: 2016158180008
Employer: Log-hauling company

Incident summary
A logging truck driver was performing regular maintenance on a logging truck. The driver positioned the truck over a grease pit, then entered the pit using stairs at the front of the truck. While the driver was in the pit, greasing areas under the truck, another worker walked along the passenger side of the truck. Then the driver left the pit and got into the cab of the truck on the driver side, and the other worker walked in front of the truck. The driver moved the truck forward to position the trailer over the pit. The truck struck the worker who was in front of the truck. The worker sustained fatal injuries.

Investigation conclusions

Cause

• Worker entered large truck’s blind spot and was struck. The size of the logging truck resulted in areas near the truck that could not be seen by the driver. When the worker walked in front of the truck, he moved into a blind spot. The worker was unable to move out of the hazardous area within the few seconds after the truck engine was started and before the truck moved forward.

Other safety issue

• Lack of high-visibility apparel. Personal protective equipment, including high-visibility apparel, was required when outside the trucks at the grease pit. The workers were not wearing high-visibility apparel. However, the worker who was struck was in a blind spot and could not be seen by the driver, so high-visibility apparel might not have been effective regardless.

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