Semi-Tractor Trailer Driver Hauling Chicken Dies After Striking A Rock Wall

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 a sunny fall day in 2007, a 50-year old semi truck driver hauling processed frozen chicken in a refrigerated trailer, died when his semi crashed into a rock wall. The driver was north bound on an interstate highway when witnesses saw the semi in the left lane contact the concrete median barrier then veer over to the right across one traffic lane and the shoulder, then strike a rock wall. The impact caused the cab to overturn onto the driver's door while the refrigerated trailer remained standing upright. An exhaust pipe located on the back of the cab was horizontal facing skyward on the cab. The fuel line to the refrigeration unit was damaged in the crash allowing fuel to drip onto the hot exhaust pipe and ignite a fire. Numerous calls reporting the crash were placed to 911 emergency medical services. A man and woman reportedly driving behind the semi witnessed the fire start between the cab and trailer. Emergency services arrived and found the cab and front of the trailer engulfed in flames. The local coroner was contacted and called to the scene where he declared the driver dead at the scene. To prevent future occurrences of similar incidents, the following recommendations have been made: Recommendation No. 1: Semi tractor-trailer drivers should be trained to recognize signs of fatigue and when to seek appropriate rest areas. Recommendation No. 2: Highway median barriers should be designed with local input of emergency responder management allowing entrance of emergency responder personnel. Recommendation No. 3: Long-haul semi tractor-trailer drivers should have a network of mechanics along the routes they travel in case mechanical problems arise. Recommendation No. 4: Employers should require drivers to perform pre-trip and post-trip inspections on the tractor and trailer prior to operating them using an expanded Department of Transportation Inspection form. Recommendation No. 5: Manufacturers of commercial refrigerated trailers should consider a sensor design that shuts off the fuel supply to the refrigeration unit when the fuel line is compromised.
• Subjects:
  Accident Prevention Accidents Accidents, Occupational Automobiles Fatigue Fires Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Refrigeration Safety Safety Management Staff Development

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• Keywords:
  Accident-analysis Accident-prevention Author Keywords: Continuous Cast-in-place Concrete Barrier Diabetic Kit Drivers Fire Fire-hazards Fire-protection Fire-protection-equipment Fuel Line Injuries Injury-prevention Motor-vehicles OSHA Region 4 Protective-measures Safety-education Safety-measures Safety-practices Training Traumatic-injuries Truck-drivers Work-practices

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• FACE - NIOSH and State:
  FACE ; Motor Vehicles ; Prevention through Design (PtD)
• Series:
  Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Reports (FACE)
• Subseries:
  State
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHSFACE07KY070
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• 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:
  1-12
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20045938
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB2015-103751
• 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 07KY070, 2008 Mar ; :1-12
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2008
• Performing Organization:
  University of Kentucky
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  48-49 - Transportation and Warehousing - (NAICS)
• Start Date:
  2005/07/01
• End Date:
  2026/06/30
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:959eaf4583351f35da10a23e49af63d891eff058d89782f3ba56966e2691f576924ea05135e29455bfd67b82106940111f82759e52f4025e99ef6a61e0594055
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/165067/cdc_165067_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 5.12 MB ]