Prevent backover construction incidents with new OSHA website
On June 18, 2009, an employee in a work zone, wearing his reflective safety vest was killed by a dump truck that backed up and struck him with its rear passenger side wheels. The dump truck had an audible back up alarm and operating lights.
On June 9, 2010, an employee standing in front of a loading dock facing the building was crushed to death by a tractor trailer backing into the same dock.
These are just two of the fatalities caused by backover incidents – incidents which occur when a backing vehicle strikes a worker who is standing, walking or kneeling behind the vehicle. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) more than 70 workers died from backover incidents in 2011. It is a serious challenge for safety in the construction industry.