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JICOSH Home > Case Studies > Case No.67
Case No.67

Caught in between the bucket and machine body during drag shovel dismantling work


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[Description of the Accident]

This accident occurred during work to dismantle a drag shovel that had been used in the construction work for two concrete dams to prevent landslides in a valley.

As the work requiring a drag shovel at the construction site had been completed, the construction contractor requested the leasing company to dismantle the machine and take it back.

On the day of the accident, three workers from the leasing company were carrying out the dismantling work along with three subcontractor workers who were hired by the contractor and were using a cable crane for transportation.

As the first stage of the dismantling work, bolts on the turning device had been loosened in the morning, followed by the start of major dismantling work from about 2:00 in the afternoon.

The victim was trying to remove pins from the base of the bucket boom by hitting the pins with hammer. Although the pins for the boom were easily removed from the base, those fastening the boom cylinder were difficult to pull out as those were tightly inserted.

The victim then tried to knock the pins from the cylinder, while using the cable crane to lift the boom. Once the worker was able to remove the pins, the boom suspended by the cable suddenly began to turn departing from the base and the slinging cable became the new fulcrum of the boom load. The bucket of the boom then rapidly swung towards the machine body and hit the base of the boom.

The victim, who was working to pull out the pins from the base of the boom at the time, could not escape from the place. He was caught between the bucket and the body of the machine, and was fatally injured with a ruptured liver.


[Causes supposed]

1. The boom began to turn when the pins were pulled out from the cylinder, because the boom was not properly suspended.

2. The victim had positioned himself improperly while pulling out the pins.

3. The dismantling work of the drag shovel was carried out without designating a work supervisor.

4. A non-qualified worker was allowed to engage in slinging work on the crane.


[Type of business] Machine leasing
[Caused by] Construction machinery for excavation
[Type of accident] Caught in or compressed by equipment
[Number of victims] One fatality
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