Report summary
On October 15, 2019, an 83-year-old commercial property owner was fatally injured while working on a forklift wheel. The wheel would not fit on the hub and he was working on the wheel on the ground when the tire ruptured, releasing an air blast that caused multiple injuries.
Incident highlights
| Date | October 15, 2019 |
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| Time | 6:30 a.m. |
| Victim | 83-year-old commercial property owner |
| Industry/NAICS Code | Lessors of Nonresidential Buildings/531120 |
| Employer | Property owner renting commercial property |
| Safety & Training | No safety and health program or on-the-job-training |
| Scene | Mixed-use commercial property |
| Location | Massachusetts |
| Event Type | Explosive air release |
Contributing factors
Key contributing factors identified in this investigation include:
- Standing within the trajectory of the air blast force of a pressurized tire;
- Lack of safety training on multi-piece wheels; and
- Performing job task alone.
Recommendations
Massachusetts FACE Program concluded that, to help prevent similar occurrences, employers should:
- Ensure workers create a controlled safe work environment prior to servicing a multi-piece wheel;
- Ensure that workers have the necessary tools, equipment, and training to safely service wheels and associated components; and
- Consider developing policies that prevent workers from working alone in certain situations.
Downloads
| Date published: | November 10, 2021 |
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