Mechanic Struck and Killed by Over-Pressurized Suspension Air Spring on Tractor Trailer

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Kentucky Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Program (KY FACE) ; University of Kentucky. College of Public Health. Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center
• Description:
  On Thursday, August 4, 2016, a 50-year-old male mechanic (the victim) was in a pit changing a suspension air spring on a tractor-trailer cab when the over-pressurized air spring exploded and struck his forehead, instantly killing him. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS - This investigation identified the following factors that contributed to the fatality: 1. Lack of safety training on installation and removal of air springs. 2. Not following the manufacturer's instruction for psi. 3. Use of shop air compressor instead of truck's air system. 4. Failing to use jack stands to raise the axle. RECOMMENDATIONS - Recommendations for prevention: 1. Employers should enforce the use of manufacturer's instructions and specifications when replacing suspension air springs. 2. Employers should develop and implement a training program for new employees and annual refresher training for those tasks deemed high hazard. 3. Employers should develop a formal written safety program and translate written training material into languages that all employees can understand. 4. Manufacturers should consider offering manuals and instructions in more than one language.
• Subjects:
  • Accident Prevention
  • Accidents
  • Accidents, Occupational
  • Automobiles
  • Explosions
  • Occupational Health
  • Race Factors
  • Safety
  • Staff Development
  • Workplace
• Keywords:
  • OSHA Region 4
  • Mechanics
  • Motor vehicle parts
  • Repair shops
  • Automobile repair shops
  • Air pressure
  • Pressure testing
  • Explosions
  • Explosive hazards
  • Workshops
  More +
• FACE - NIOSH and State:
  FACE ; Hispanic ; Motor Vehicles ; Foreign Born Workers
• Series:
  Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Reports (FACE)
• Subseries:
  State
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHSFACE16KY039
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Field Study
• Place as Subject:
  Kentucky ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-9
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20052942
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB2018-101646
• Citation:
  Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, FACE 16KY039, 2018 Mar ; :1-9
• Email:
  Kyfaceprogram@uky.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• Performing Organization:
  University of Kentucky
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  53 - Real Estate and Rental and Leasing - (NAICS)
• Start Date:
  2005/07/01
• End Date:
  2026/06/30
• Resource Number:
  FACE-16KY039
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/164975/cdc_164975_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.57 MB]
• Collection(s):
  Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:db45a589904b7766595ccb87f39e08fef3171db5186f63aa1de5d658710cf59a29ff4e29921530cb882ce908899a5ba83afb866efa43adb5bbc154edd15d5085