Report summary and highlights
On October 10, 2017, a 54-year-old male ranch hand died while inside a paddock with two horses. The ranch hand was inside a paddock throwing hay at the time of the incident when he was kicked in the head by one of the horses.
| Date | October 10, 2017 |
|---|---|
| Time | 12.15 p.m. |
| Victim | 54-year old male ranch hand |
| Industry/NAICS Code | Horse Boarding / 115210 |
| Employer | Independent Contractor |
| Safety & Training | No safety and health program and limited on-the-job training |
| Scene | Horse stable in a rural area |
| Location | Massachusetts |
| Event Type | Struck by animal |
Contributing factors
Key contributing factors identified in this investigation include:
- Having to enter the paddock with a horse present to throw hay;
- Unstable footing due to muddy ground;
- No comprehensive safety and health program; and
- Working alone.
Recommendations
Massachusetts FACE Program concluded that, to help prevent similar occurrences, employers and stable owners should:
- Ensure the task of throwing hay can be completed without having to be inside the paddock with the horses present.
- Ensure dry and stable footing in the areas where workers will be on foot.
- Develop and implement a comprehensive safety and health program that includes training and addresses hazard recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions.
- Consider developing policies that prevent working alone when performing certain tasks.
In addition, employers should:
- Ensure they are not misclassifying workers as independent contractors by complying with the Massachusetts Independent Contractor Law.
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| Date published: | March 24, 2019 |
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