CLAIM ALERT
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This Claim Alert is being issued due to a serious accident/incident that occurred in the Captive Insurance Program. The
primary purpose of the claim alert is to determine the underlying cause(s) of the accident so that steps can be put in place
to prevent similar types of accidents from occurring.
Accident Description:
On 12-1-07 at approximately 10:00AM, a paving laborer (ground man) suffered severe foot injuries while providing hand
signals for an asphalt milling machine. The milling machine had just cut a path on the road under construction, and was
turning around in an intersection. The ground man was assisting the operator in turning the machine around by providing
hand gestures. During the sequence of events involved in turning the milling machine around, the laborers foot was ran
over by the tracks of the machine. Due to the extent of the injuries, amputation of the foot was necessary.
After contacting emergency services, the NERI member immediately reported the claim to Liberty Mutual who had an
adjuster onsite within hours to assist in the investigation.
Investigative Findings:
The machine involved was a Roadtec RX-60B. Both the
operator and ground man had well over five years of
experience working as a team with this same machine.
Although a picture of the exact machine was not provided to
HC&A, a picture of a similar Roadtec found online is
pictured to the right. From the operator’s location, visibility
is very poor around the machine. Because of this fact,
operation of this machine requires ground personnel to
provide signals to the operator during travel. At the time of
the injury, only one ground man was necessary and provided
as the intersection was shut down by an assisting police
officer.
Example of machine involved. Pictures of the
exact machine were not provided.
While attempting to turn the machine around in the intersection the operator states he received an OK signal from the
ground man, who was several feet away from the equipment at the time, and began moving the machine. While moving
the machine, the operator continually looks around checking both sides. He states that while doing so he noticed the
ground man had gotten very close to the right side track and immediately stopped and changed direction. Before the
machine changed directions however, the right side front track had ran over the ground mans foot.
Exact reasons why the ground man had gotten so close to the machine were not obtained. One possible scenario presented
by those onsite was that the clothing worn by the ground man blocked his peripheral vision. Due to the cold weather, the
ground man was said to be wearing a hood which may have contributed. A second scenario involved whether the ground
man was aware the operator was turning the machine. When turning, the tracks extend outside the structure of the
machine. The crew did not have a separate signal for turning, and it is believed the ground man may have thought the
machine was going straight back instead of turning and backing. A miscommunication may have occurred.
Due to a lack of facts involving these two scenarios, our claim alert will review both as possibilities.
CLAIM ALERT
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Contributing Causes:
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Employees peripheral vision may have been blocked due to clothing worn to protect against cold weather.
Miscommunication between the operator and the ground man may have occurred. The ground man may have
thought the operator was to move straight backward when in fact the operator backed and turned at the same time.
Numerous blind spots around this machine present a hazard.
Root Causes:
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Written policy and training programs fail to address attire. When working on any construction site and in
particular work zones, peripheral vision is critical.
Ineffective plan for communication.
Prevention:
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Implement a policy which prohibits the wearing of loose fitting hoods or clothing that impedes vision. Hats, or
tight fitting face and ear apparel which do not impede vision should be utilized.
Develop a standardized set of hand signals, agreed upon, and clearly understood by all employees within the work
crew. This set of hand signals shall include all motions performed by the equipment.
NERI Members should utilize this claims alert as a training tool. This claims alert is evidence that serious injuries can,
and do, occur.
HC&A would like to solicit input from members regarding current safety practices when performing operations listed
within this claims alert. Please include information regarding employee training, jobsite set-up, inspections, and any
additional possible root causes that may have lead to this incident.
By working together and sharing ideas we can help prevent accidents and continue to provide our employees with
a safe work environment. Comments and recommendations regarding all Claim Alerts can be sent to the Loss
Control Team at safety@hettrickcyr.com.