On May 18, 2015, a 59-year old delivery truck driver with 32 years of experience was killed at a cement plant. The victim arrived at the plant to deliver drums. After opening the trailer doors, the driver walked to the cab of his truck and proceeded to climb the steps to get back in the cab when he fell backwards onto the ground striking the back of his head.
Best Practices
- Always use the “Three Points of Contact” method. Ensure that either two hands and one foot, or one hand and two feet are in contact with the ladder at all times when mounting and dismounting equipment.
- Equipment should be designed to minimize the height of the first step from the ground and be provided with hand-holds to facilitate “Three Points of Contact”
- Keep hands free of any objects when mounting or dismounting equipment.
- Maintain traction by ensuring footwear is free of potential slipping hazards such as dirt, oil, and grease. Slip resistant material can be coated to existing foot holds and handrails.
- Always face equipment when mounting or dismounting it.
- Always maintain and use the access provided by the manufacturer.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (pdf).