Fatality Narrative: Worker Struck by Vehicle When Exiting Trench in Roadway
Summary Statement
Washington State Department of Labor narrative of a fatal accident when a passing car struck a member of an underground utility crew.
2002
| Industry: Utility installation | Release Date: January 9, 2003 |
| Occupation: Construction foreman | Case No.: 02WA03401 |
| Task: Installing natural gas line connection in roadway trench | SHARP Report No.: 71-6-2003 |
| Type of Incident: Struck by motor vehicle |
On June 10, 2002,
a construction foreman was struck and killed by a pickup truck while
exiting an approximately 2 1/2 foot deep trench in a roadway work zone
where he had been installing a natural gas line connection. The 49-year-old
member of the Plumber and Pipefitter's Union had been working with two
others in the roadway. The work zone was on a busy city street and had
warning signs and cones. The crew foreman was exiting the shallow trench
in the roadway when a pickup truck plowed through the work zone striking
him from behind and then struck another worker. The foreman died a short
while later in a hospital. The other worker was hospitalized with head
and facial injuries.
Requirements/Recommendations
(! Indicates
items required by law)
-
! Follow
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) requirements for temporary
traffic control for specific roadway work zone site.
- Place temporary
engineering controls such as Jersey barriers, water filled barrels,
a truck with a rear-mounted impact attenuater, material piles, or
construction vehicles between traffic lanes and work zone workers
to supplement administrative controls (signs).
- Consider road
closure when possible.
! Employer must make an assessment of potential work site safety hazards, as required by the regulation, before starting work, and mitigate accordingly.
! On-site flaggers and traffic control supervisors are required to have training in the control of traffic. We recommend that project managers also receive this training.
- Workers should have a communication plan and an emergency exit strategy in the event an errant vehicle enters the work zone
