Report summary
At 6:32 a.m. on December 16, 2022, a 31-year-old Hispanic Black laborer for a transportation company was struck and killed by a backing waste haul dumpster truck at a freight transfer facility.
| Incident Highlights | |
|---|---|
| Date | December 16, 2022 |
| Time | 6:32 a.m. |
| Victim | 31-year-old Freight mover |
| Industry/NAICS Code | General freight trucking, local/484110 |
| Employer | Trucking company |
| Safety & Training | Some involved companies provided training |
| Scene | Freight transfer facility |
| Location | Massachusetts |
| Event Type | Struck by backing vehicle |
Contributing factors
Key contributing factors identified in this investigation include:
- Inadequate outdoor lighting
- Inadequate designated walkway for pedestrians
- Lack of personal protective clothing, such as reflective vests
- Deficient truck side lighting and rear lighting
- Inadequate training on working around moving vehicles
- Audible signals that may be obscured by the tilted dumpster or confusing in their meaning
Recommendations
Massachusetts FACE investigators concluded that, to help prevent similar occurrences, employers should:
- Ensure adequate outdoor lighting for areas with moving vehicles and walking pedestrians
- Ensure there is a designated walkway for pedestrians between the parking lot and buildings
- Ensure that employees wear reflective vests when working near moving vehicles
- Ensure equipment and vehicles are properly maintained
- Train workers on the hazards of working near moving vehicles
- Coordinate with other employers in a hazard assessment for the site and collaborate in developing, implementing, and enforcing safety and health programs at a shared site
- Assess safety features of motor vehicles and equipment when they are in use and ensure that the core function of each safety feature is maintained
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| Date published: | May 29, 2025 |
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