Laborer Compressed between the Top Rail of a Scissor Lift Guardrail and a Steel Beam - Massachusetts

SUMMARY

On December 5, 2013, a 37-year-old male laborer (victim) was fatally asphyxiated when his head and neck region was compressed between a steel beam and the top rail of a scissor lift. The victim was working from a raised scissor lift to secure a large tarpaulin (tarp) to a steel column on a construction site. The tarp became caught on the scissor lift’s joystick control causing the lift to rise up further unexpectedly and resulting in the compression injuries. Workers from another company found the victim when they went to check on him. A call was placed for emergency medical services (EMS). The local police and EMS arrived at the incident location within minutes. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Laborer Compressed between the Top Rail of a Scissor Lift Guardrail and a Steel Beam - Massachusetts [PDF 485 KB]