Worker struck and injured by tipper truck

What happened?

The UK HSE reports the prosecution of a building contractor after a worker was struck and injured by a tipper truck. The incident occurred at a time of simulataneous operations; there were a number of tipper trucks delivering material to the site and various workers were directing the drivers to different areas.

What went wrong? What were the causes?

The injured worker was walking along a haul road in an attempt to attract the attention of a vehicle in another area of the site when he was struck and run over by a tipper truck. The worker suffered serious injuries including several broken bones in both legs and feet and severe damage to the blood vessels in his legs. His injuries resulted in him having his right leg amputated to the knee over 12 months after the incident.

A HSE investigation found that there were insufficient protected walkways across the site and that there was no control over access to the site. The investigation also found that there was an accepted practice of walking on haul roads and that there was a lack of an up to date traffic management plan.

It was noted that worksites where plant and pedestrians may be operating together should be organised in a way which prevents pedestrians and vehicles coming into contact with each other. This is as true of quaysides and dry dock bottoms as it is of the land-based construction site in this example.

The full press release can be found on the HSE website.

Further IMCA Safety promotional material can also be found on the IMCA Website.

Members may wish to refer to the following incidents:

• Near miss: Worker in dockyard almost struck by a ‘cherry picker’ crane
• Worker trapped and injured by reversing vehicle
• Worker was injured by a fork lift truck
• Two industrial vehicle incidents
• Fatality: Crew member struck by forklift during quayside operations
• Fatality during basket transfer

Members may also wish to refer to the following IMCA videos:

• Working at height (short)
• Working at height (long)
• Lifting operations (short)
• Safe lifting (long)
• Line of fire (short)
• In the line of fire (long)

Members may also wish to refer to the following guidance:

• Guidance on safety in shipyards – SEL 032
• Guidelines for lifting operations – SEL 019