Refuse Collector was Fatally Injured when Struck by a Backing Refuse Collection Truck - Massachusetts

Massachusetts Case Report: 11MA019
Release Date: February 26, 2013

The following report is the product of our Cooperative State partner and is presented here in its original unedited form from the state. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the individual Cooperative State partner and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

SUMMARY

On July 12, 2011 a 28-year-old male refuse collector (victim) was fatally injured when he was struck by a backing refuse collection truck. The victim had just finished stopping traffic on a main roadway to allow the truck to back down a dead-end side street. After stopping traffic, the victim ran along the driver’s side of the backing truck and then stepped behind the truck to climb onto the loading sill section of the hopper. While climbing onto the truck, he slipped off the truck, fell to the ground and then was struck by the driver’s side rear wheels. When the victim fell, the two co-workers, who were standing on the truck’s rear riding steps, yelled stop multiple times and the truck driver stopped the truck. Multiple co-workers called for emergency medical services (EMS). Personnel from the local and state police departments, fire department and EMS all arrived within minutes of the calls. The victim was pronounced dead at the incident location. The Massachusetts FACE Program concluded that to prevent similar occurrences in the future, employers should:

Refuse Collector was Fatally Injured when Struck by a Backing Refuse Collection Truck - Massachusetts [PDF 231 KB]