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JICOSH Home > Case Studies > Case No.97
Case No.97

The operator of a drag shovel is crushed by running into a beam during work to improve a sewage channel
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[Description of the Accident]

While operating a drag shovel during work to improve a sewage channel, the chest of the shovel operator was caught because his back made contact with a beam that supports the sheet piles that were driven into both sides.

This construction work included the following steps in the schedule: excavating the bottom of the existing sewage channel by drag shovel, installing a gravel underlayment at the bottom of the sewage channel after the completion of the excavation, pouring concrete on the underlayment, and then pouring concrete for the walls on both sides of the sewage channel.

Continuing the work carried out on the day before, the site supervisor lowered a drag shovel and an earth carrier to the bottom of the sewage channel by mobile crane in order to remove earth from the bottom.

After doing so, the site supervisor went to another part of the site, and a co-worker of the victim went to check a submerged pump installed at the same site and to make the rounds of a nearby embankment construction site where work was also being carried out.

When the co-worker came back from the inspection of the submerged pump, he found the victim in the driver's seat of the drag shovel caught between the steel beam and the operating lever of the drag shovel that had previously been lowered into the sewage channel.

Although the victim had arrived at the site at the time of the morning meeting on that day, he did not participate as he was at another place.
[Causes supposed]

1. Although the height of the steel beams supporting the sheet piles was not high enough above the ground to enable the drag shovel to be moved below them, the operator had driven the drag shovel.

2. The drag shovel was left unattended with the key still in the ignition.

3. The drag shovel was operated by the victim who did not complete the skill-training course that is designated by law, nor did he receive any special education.

4. The drag shovel has not equipped with a head guard.
[Type of business] Water and sewage construction
[Caused by] Machine for excavation
[Type of accident] Caught or trapped
[Number of victims] One fatality
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