Excerpt from the OH&S Canada magazine
A Nova Scotia business owner was released from hospital following a January 4, 2011 incident in which he was under a skid steer after its supports gave way.
The owner of Art’s Overhead Door Service in Berwick, Nova Scotia was working on a skid steer that had been raised up on jack stands and ramps. When the supports collapsed, the owner sustained a broken finger and a bruised face, says the labour department’s Kevin Finch.
Steve McMahon, deputy fire chief of the Berwick & District Fire Department, reports that the owner had backed up the skid steer onto ramps, lifted its front end with a bucket and placed jack stands under the raised vehicle during the holiday season a couple of weeks earlier.
On January 4, the owner decided to change some of the skid steer’s hydraulic hoses. He crawled underneath the vehicle and began loosening a hose, McMahon says. “The effort of pulling on the wrench appears to have rolled it off the jacks,” he says.
The owner called for his wife, but then lost consciousness because of the pressure exerted on his chest, says McMahon. A friend who worked at a transmission shop in the same industrial mall grabbed a hydraulic floor jack “and immediately started lifting the pressure off him,” McMahon reports. “The outcome would have been different if he didn’t get that pressure off him.”
When firefighters arrived on scene about six minutes after the 9-1-1 call, the friend had already managed to raise the vehicle. Four firefighters then helped lift the owner from beneath the vehicle.
My opinion
There is an old saying, “You cannot fix stupid.” This skid steer accident was just waiting to happen. Did this idiot really think about what he was doing? Obviously not! I bet the readership he has never even reviewed the manual. There is a sure bet that the manufacturer would have placed safety information about the safe application of their products.
I am angry about stupid people. Many an argument from students are about legislation really being about ‘common sense’! This is one of those times that common sense was ‘NOT SO COMMON’.
God, what an idiot! Picture working for the guy! No wonder we have to enact legislation to combat stupidity!
Remember – In Canada, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”
HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety needs including ‘Due Diligence’ and ‘Standard Operating Procedures’. Contact Deborah toll free at 1-877-907-7744 or locally at 705-749-1259.
‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Advanced Level
VP & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.
This is real good stuff!
The other day, while I was at work, my sister mentioned this site!
Of course every one is sharing facts, that’s genuinely
excellent, keep up writing.
May I just say what a comfort to find someone that truly understands what they’re talking about on the internet.
You’ve made some decent points here.
What’s up to all, because I am truly eager of reading this website’s post.
Hello there! I just would like to give you a big thumbs up for the great info you have here on this post.
Spot on with this posting! I truly think this site needs far more attention. I’ll probably be back again to read through more, thanks for the info!
Everything is very open with a precise clarification of the issues. It was really informative.
Your website is very helpful. Many thanks for sharing!
Hello there! I just would like to give you a huge thumbs up for your great info you have right here.
This page truly has all of the information and facts I needed about this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
Thank you once again!
I wanted to thank you for all the great information you are providing.
One more thing on which you need to pay attention to is all apsects of health and safety.
Aw, this was an incredibly good post.
Nice Blog, thanks for sharing this kind of information.
Nice Blog, thanks for sharing this kind of information.
You are so good!
Nice Blog, thanks for sharing this kind of information.
Nice Blog, thanks for sharing this kind of information.