Skid-steer operator struck by falling concrete rubble

Background

An employee operating a skid-steer loader was seriously hurt while loading concrete rubble into a tip truck.

The employee was injured when concrete rubble fell from the open jaws of the loader's 4-in-1 bucket. The falling rubble went through the front opening of the loader cabin and hit the employee. The employee's injuries included a broken knee and cuts.

Safety issues

Skid-steer loaders fitted with 4-in-1 buckets are a hazard. They create a risk to the operator. When the jaw of the bucket is open, material can fall from the bottom of the bucket into the operator station. Operators can be killed or seriously injured if hit.

Recommended ways to control risks

Employers must eliminate any risks to health and safety at work. They must do this so far as is reasonably practicable. If employers cannot eliminate the risks, they must reduce them so far as is reasonably practicable.

To fulfil their duty employers must control any risks associated with plant. This includes risks from skid-steer loaders. Employers must eliminate risks to skid-steer loader operators who load rubble. They must do this so far as is reasonably practicable. If employers can't eliminate those risks, then they must reduce them so far as is reasonably practicable. They can do this by ensuring skid-steer loaders are fitted with appropriate risk controls. Risk controls include operator front protection and standard bucket attachments.

Here are examples of ways to control risks to skid-steer loader operators who load rubble:

Skips

Replacing tip trucks with skips on the ground is one way to eliminate risks from loading into tip trucks. Instead of loading over the high sides of a tip truck, loader operators load over the low sides of the skip. A skip loader truck then collects the skip for transport.

Operator front protection

Skid-steer loaders have different cabins. Some have open cabins with mesh sides and open fronts. Others have enclosed cabins with glass windows and a front door.

Where practicable, skid-steer loaders with open fronts should be fitted with protective screens. Options include polycarbonate replacement front doors and mesh or demolition front screens.

The skid-steer's front door or screen should be closed when operating. Doing this isolates the operator from material that falls from the 4-in-1 bucket. It can also protect the operator from material the 4-in-1 bucket might pull from the tip truck. This can happen when the loader reverses.

If a skid-steer loader cannot be fitted with a protective screen, use other plant with appropriate operator protection.

Standard bucket attachment

A standard bucket attachment is an alternative for loading material over the side of a tip truck. The bucket ensures the load cannot fall towards the skid-steer loader operator. If material does fall, the loader's falling object protective structure (FOPS) provides protection. It reduces the risk of material striking the operator.

Alternative plant

Front-of-cabin protective devices can be fitted to other plant, such as excavators. If a skid-steer loader does not have front-of-cabin protection, use plant that has the required protection.

Legal duties

Employers have duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004. They include duties to do the following:

• Provide and maintain a working environment that is safe and without risks to health.
• Provide or maintain plant and systems of work that are safe and without risk to health.
• Provide employees with information, instruction, training or supervision. Employers must meet a standard when fulfilling this duty. They must provide what is necessary for employees to work safely.
• Ensure people who are not employees are not exposed to risks from the employer's conduct.
• Consult with employees, including any health and safety representatives.

Employers must fulfil these duties so far as is reasonably practicable.

Employers and self-employed people also have duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017. This includes duties in relation to the use of plant. These duties include, so far as is reasonably practicable:

• identifying all hazards associated with the use of plant at the workplace
• controlling risks associated with plant in line with the plant hierarchy of control.

Employers and self-employed people must also:

• ensure plant is inspected so far as is necessary to ensure risks associated with its use are monitored
• take steps to prevent interference with the plant
• when required, prepare a safe work method statement, also known as a SWMS.