Abstract: A 44-yr-old telecommunications equipment installer died on his way home from a meeting, when he was apparently distracted and veered into oncoming traffic. His company pickup truck collided head-on with a van. Two other persons were killed in the incident.

Report: Roofer’s family member helping at worksite dies after falling through skylight. (PDF) OR2003-01-1

Abstract: A 19-yr-old roofer’s helper died when he fell through a skylight to a concrete floor 35 ft below. The worker was assisting his father, a roofing contractor, repair water leaks on the flat roof of a commercial warehouse. Clearing up for the day, the victim was backing up with a torch hose when he stepped or tripped into the skylight. The acrylic plastic dome shattered under his weight.

Abstract: A 44-yr-old Hispanic landscape laborer was killed when he fell about 15 ft off a ladder and struck the back of his head on asphalt. The ladder went one way, and the laborer the other, a witness reported. The victim reportedly drank alcohol the night before and did not get to sleep until 6 a.m.

Abstract: A 62-yr-old truck driver was killed in semi-truck and trailer rollover on a flat curve on I-5 in southern Oregon. The driver lost control of the vehicle as it veered onto the gravel shoulder. The trailer tilted to the right and pulled the truck onto the passenger side. The driver was ejected and run over. The victim was reportedly not wearing a seat belt. The medical examiner found an ethyl alcohol level of 0.13, above the legal limit in Oregon of 0.08.

Abstract: A 33-yr-old male of Ukrainian descent, working as a taxi driver, was robbed and killed by a passenger. The driver picked up a fare from a jail and took the passenger to his place of work, where he retrieved something from his work locker. Shortly after the passenger’s return, the driver pushed the panic alarm in his car. Without a global positioning (GPS) system, there was no way to know the taxi’s location. The driver’s body was discovered about 12 hrs later following an anonymous call.

Report: Shipyard welder ignites hydraulic fluid and is fatally burned (PDF) OR2003-22-1

Abstract: A 48-yr-old female shipyard welder died 62 days after being caught in a fireball in the cage of a high lift, while welding the stern of a barge. Fire investigators theorize that a small pinhead leak developed in the highly pressurized hydraulic lines of the high lift, and this escaping oil was atomized in the atmosphere until ignited by the sparks of the wire-fed welder. The fire spread rapidly and engulfed the worker’s platform. All hydraulic lines in the platform were consumed, and escaping oil evidently fed the blaze until coworkers turned off the source. The victim sustained 80% full thickness burns and thermal inhalation injuries. She expired from complications secondary to sepsis two months later.

Abstract: A 42-yr-old production worker at a chainsaw manufacturer died about 7 months after twisting his ankle. The worker did not consider the injury serious. He later developed deep-vein thrombosis and died of a blood clot, described as a “bilateral pulmonary embolism.”

Abstract: A 53-yr-old firefighter was killed while riding in the front passenger seat of a fire truck, during hazardous materials training on a rainy night. The firefighter was one of three riders in the truck. The driver moved the truck to the side of a narrow road for an oncoming vehicle, and the rear tire left the edge of the pavement and fell into a 40-inch ditch. The driver attempted to regain the roadway, but the truck bounced over two driveways, returned to the ditch, and crashed into a tree. The front passenger side of the cab was crushed. The victim was the only occupant injured.

Abstract: A 38-yr-old sales representative committed suicide at his place of work with a handgun.

Abstract: A 20-yr-old female animal caretaker at a horse-training stable was fatally shot while walking across the parking lot where she worked. The suspected shooter reportedly had mental health issues and had been hallucinating before the shooting.

Abstract: A 54-yr-old male architect was one of two killed in an airplane crash. The architect was on his way to a scheduled business meeting. The Cessna 207 struck a 60 degree slope at height speed. There was low cloud cover at the time of the incident. The pilot did not radio a distress call.

Abstract: A 75-yr-old male pilot was one of two killed in an airplane crash. The pilot was an ex-Alaska bush pilot, flying a fare to a scheduled business meeting. The Cessna 207 struck a 60-degree slope at high speed. There was low cloud cover at the time of the incident. The pilot did not radio a distress call.

Report: Logger killed by falling sheave when yarder tower collapses (PDF) OR2003-06-1

Abstract: A 42-yr-old male logger, working as a chaser, was killed while standing on a landing site in front of a delimber. A nearby yarder was in the process of completing a turn on a cable-logging operation, when two of the four stumps used to secure the tower’s guylines failed. The yarder tower lost stability and fell on the boom of the delimber, sheering off a sheave (cable pulley guide) from the front of the boom. The sheave fell and struck the chaser on the head.

Report: Logger killed as skyline cable whips free of slash pile (PDF) OR2003-07-1

Abstract: A 37-yr-old logger, working as a hooktender, was struck and killed by a skyline cable. The hooktender and a coworker had pulled slack in the cable to reach a new tailhold. The two loggers were standing within 15 ft in front of the stump, when the hooktender called to have the skyline pulled taut by the yarder. The cable was caught in a slash pile, but continued slowly moving until it broke free, whipped outward, and struck the hooktender in the chest.

Report: Hispanic laborer drowns after falling into landscaping pond. (PDF) OR2003-08-1

Abstract: A 23-yr-old male Hispanic laborer drowned after falling into a landscape pond at the base of a steep slope. Immediately before the incident, a wheelbarrow load of rocks was delivered to the landscape worker. The wheelbarrow was later found lying on its side, with the rocks strewn down the slope. A coworker on the slope above responded, and managed to grab the laborer’s hand in the water, but was pulled in as well. The coworker could not relocate the victim. The pond slopes from 4 ft to 12 ft deep. The victim was unable to swim, and he disappeared quickly as his boots filled with water.

Abstract: A 52-yr-old logger, working as a faller, was killed when the top of a snag broke off and fell on him. The faller, with over 30 yrs of experience falling trees, was working with two others in a thinning operation. He had cut two trees near an old-growth snag that was 40 ft tall and 36 in. diameter. He was delimbing and bucking the fallen trees about 35 ft from the base of the snag. The trees rested against the base of the snag, and the vibrations evidently caused the top 20 ft of the snag to break off and fall on the victim.

Report: Home construction worker falls (PDF) OR2003-10-1

Abstract: A 41-yr-old construction worker fell to his death down an elevator shaft in a house under construction. The worker was on the second floor of a three-level house, handing up materials to coworkers nailing joists on the floor above. The crew was called in 4 days before to finish framing the house. They removed the protective cover to the elevator shaft to frame the walls, and replaced it with an unsecured board. On the morning of the incident, the shaft was open to allow access to the floor below. The victim apparently wandered too close to the opening at the end of the newly framed hallway.

Abstract: A 42-yr-old lumber mill worker died in the hospital 5 months after sustaining multiple injuries to his left leg when he was caught in a stamper machine at work. His leg was broken in three places, and he was in physical therapy. The night before his death, the worker arrived at a hospital emergency department with pain, and was admitted with a diagnosis of sepsis of the left knee. During the night he was given several intravenous doses of pain medication. A nurse found the victim struggling to breathe, and efforts to clear ventilation were unsuccessful. Cause of death was aspiration of gastric content.

Report: Construction worker dies when he leans out of the protective cage of a skid steer forklift and is crushed. (PDF) OR2003-15-1

Abstract: A 32-yr-old construction worker was killed when he leaned out of the protective cage of a skid-steer loader, and was crushed when the hoist unexpectedly descended. The skid steer’s load was about 3 ft off the ground, with a 2x4 propped underneath to support it. While wearing his tool belt, the worker got in the skid steer to move it out of the way of a paving operation. Noticing the 2x4 prop, he leaned out of the cage with his hammer to remove it, but the hammer was too short. He then lifted the safety bar and extended himself out beneath the lift assembly. His tool belt evidently activated the lift while he was in this position.

Abstract: A 45-yr-old logger, working as a faller, was killed when the dead top of the tree he was falling snapped back after hitting a danger tree. The crew was working in a USFS old-growth thinning operation, where the only trees to be cut had been pre-marked. The 50 ft treetop of the faller’s 170 ft tree sprang with considerable force about 150 ft to reach his position. His view of the oncoming treetop may have been partially obstructed by a shorter, intervening tree. The victim had over 20 years of experience and was well known as a careful faller.

Abstract: A 22-yr-old male worker died 23 days after cleaning a waste antifreeze storage tank with a high-pressure washer at a waste management plant. The worker was not wearing respiratory protection. Shortly after completing the daylong job, the worker complained of being short of breath, and was admitted to a hospital. Five days in the hospital included 3 days in the ICU, before being released. Follow-up 10 days later showed he was not improving, and he was readmitted to the hospital. The victim died in the hospital 4 days later due to hypoxia and respiratory failure. Hydrofluoric acid was the suspected agent.

Abstract: A 66-yr-old skipper of a charter fishing boat was drowned when his boat swamped in a series of large waves while crossing the bar into the ocean. Another boat that had just crossed the bar communicated to the skipper that a log was rolling in the surf. The skipper’s boat may have struck the log and stripped the prop, causing it to lose steerage. Nineteen passengers and crew were on the boat. Eight persons were rescued, and 11 were dead or missing, including the skipper.

Report: Load of lumber shifts and falls on construction worker killing him (PDF) OR2003-16-1

Abstract: A 32-yr-old construction worker was killed at a home under construction when a load of lumber being raised by a rough-terrain forklift shifted and fell on him. The load was extended beyond the capacity of the forklift, and the rear of the machine upended. The worker was on top of a ladder, climbing through a stairwell hole onto the second floor. A coworker guiding the load and acting as a spotter did not know he was there.

Report: Farmer is killed when he falls beneath moving combine. (PDF) OR2003-19-1

Abstract: A 32-yr-old grass farmer was killed when he fell under the rear wheel of his moving combine. Entering a new field after making adjustments to the combine, the farmer exited the cab to check the seed flow at the rear while the combine was operating. The farmer was wearing cowboy boots instead of his usual sneakers, and he may have tripped. The wheel apparently grabbed his arm and pulled him under.

Abstract: A 20-yr-old male musician, along with 2 other band members aged 21 and 23, was killed when the van he was in left the road while returning home from an out-of-state band performance. The van ran off the paved surface and overturned while trying to get back on the road. The victims were not wearing seatbelts and were ejected from the vehicle. Two other passengers wearing seatbelts were treated and released.

Abstract: A 21-yr-old male musician, along with 2 other band members aged 20 and 23, was killed when the van he was in left the road while returning home from an out-of-state band performance. The van ran off the paved surface and overturned while trying to get back on the road. The victims were not wearing seatbelts and were ejected from the vehicle. Two other passengers wearing seatbelts were treated and released.

Abstract: A 23-yr-old male musician, along with 2 other band members aged 20 and 21, was killed when the van he was in left the road while returning home from an out-of-state band performance. The van ran off the paved surface and overturned while trying to get back on the road. The victims were not wearing seatbelts and were ejected from the vehicle. Two other passengers wearing seatbelts were treated and released.

Report: Auto salvage worker killed by unsecured car on transporter (PDF) OR2003-18-1

Abstract: A 37-yr-old truck driver for an auto salvage firm was killed when a car being loaded onto his three-car carrier rolled off the top deck and crushed him. The salvaged car was being lifted into position by a forklift, operated by an employee of the auction yard. The car was unsecured on the forks. The truck driver was helping to load from the lower deck, and attached a chain to the undercarriage of the car. The chain was evidently not hooked to the solid frame of the car, and it rolled forward off the top deck and over the driver as he turned away.

Abstract: A 44-yr-old long-haul truck driver was killed when he was struck by another truck while standing beside his vehicle on the side of the highway on a clear day. The driver was parked 3 ft beyond the fog line on the side of the road. Jumper cables were found on the ground, indicating he may have been standing on the driver’s side between the truck and trailer where the battery is accessible. The driver of the triple trailer that struck the victim was reportedly cited in the incident.

Report: Young camp counselor killed when cannon bursts to pieces (PDF) OR2003-20-1R

Abstract: A 16-yr-old camp counselor was killed when a ceremonial cannon he was firing burst into pieces. The cannon had been used regularly at flag-lowering ceremonies for 3 years. On the evening of the incident, the counselor set up the cannon as instructed and attempted to fire it during the flag ceremony, but the wind blew out the touchstick twice. After the ceremony, the counselor and a coworker tried again to fire the cannon. Additional black powder was added to the breech hole, and this time the powder ignited. The breech of the cannon burst into pieces, and a large fragment struck the victim in the forehead. He died 4 days later in a hospital. The coworker was uninjured.

Abstract: A 55-yr-old Native American logger, working as a faller, was struck and killed by the tree he was falling. The tree struck a snag on the way down and the butt-end sprung back 12 ft into the faller’s work zone, striking him. The faller was using a standard Humboldt face cut, but the back cut was too low, giving the butt an insufficient step to push off.

Report: Worker killed in wood-dust fire sparked by faulty fuse (PDF) OR2003-21-1

Abstract: A 50-yr-old production worker died 8 days after being severely burned in a wood-dust explosion in a wood-flour mill. A fuse replaced 4 days earlier with electrician’s tape was shown to the worker when he came on shift, and he took it out to inspect it. The fuse evidently failed to make secure contact when it was reinserted. The worker was alone, going through the routine start-up sequence of the plant. Flipping the motor switch with the faulty fuse sparked accumulated wood dust in the fuse box, which exploded and produced dust clouds from other surfaces, which also exploded. Suffering second- and third-degree burns on his upper body and arms, the victim was transported to a local hospital, where he later died.

Abstract: A 47-yr-old worker was killed when he fell 13 ft from a roof he was repairing for a homeowner. The worker had just finished shingling the left side of the dormer on a dry, warm afternoon, and was moving into position to begin shingling the right side. He was not tied off or using fall protection. The victim was not experiencing any problems, according to the homeowner, who witnessed the victim suddenly fall head-first toward the ground.

Abstract: A 21-yr-old wildland firefighter, along with 7 other crew members, was killed in a traffic accident after spending the previous 11 days fighting forest fires. The victims were part of a 19 man crew ranging in age from 19 to 38. The crew had been demobilized the previous evening. Weather was sunny and dry. The crew had been on the road about 3 hrs when a crew driver in a 12-passenger van attempted to pass a semi-trailer on a downhill left-hand curve, in a marked no-passing zone. The van struck an oncoming semi-trailer head on. This particular patch of road is known for frequent accidents. Alcohol may have played a role in the incident.

Abstract: A 38-yr-old wildland firefighter, along with 7 other crew members, was killed in a traffic accident after spending the previous 11 days fighting forest fires. The victims were part of a 19 man crew ranging in age from 19 to 38. The crew had been demobilized the previous evening. Weather was sunny and dry. The crew had been on the road about 3 hrs when a crew driver in a 12-passenger van attempted to pass a semi-trailer on a downhill left-hand curve, in a marked no-passing zone. The van struck an oncoming semi-trailer head on. This particular patch of road is known for frequent accidents. Alcohol may have played a role in the incident.

Abstract: A 22-yr-old wildland firefighter, along with 7 other crew members, was killed in a traffic accident after spending the previous 11 days fighting forest fires. The victims were part of a 19 man crew ranging in age from 19 to 38. The crew had been demobilized the previous evening. Weather was sunny and dry. The crew had been on the road about 3 hrs when a crew driver in a 12-passenger van attempted to pass a semi-trailer on a downhill left-hand curve, in a marked no-passing zone. The van struck an oncoming semi-trailer head on. This particular patch of road is known for frequent accidents. Alcohol may have played a role in the incident.

Abstract: A 21-yr-old wildland firefighter, along with 7 other crew members, was killed in a traffic accident after spending the previous 11 days fighting forest fires. The victims were part of a 19 man crew ranging in age from 19 to 38. The crew had been demobilized the previous evening. Weather was sunny and dry. The crew had been on the road about 3 hrs when a crew driver in a 12-passenger van attempted to pass a semi-trailer on a downhill left-hand curve, in a marked no-passing zone. The van struck an oncoming semi-trailer head on. This particular patch of road is known for frequent accidents. Alcohol may have played a role in the incident.

Abstract: A 27-yr-old wildland firefighter, along with 7 other crew members, was killed in a traffic accident after spending the previous 11 days fighting forest fires. The victims were part of a 19 man crew ranging in age from 19 to 38. The crew had been demobilized the previous evening. Weather was sunny and dry. The crew had been on the road about 3 hrs when a crew driver in a 12-passenger van attempted to pass a semi-trailer on a downhill left-hand curve, in a marked no-passing zone. The van struck an oncoming semi-trailer head on. This particular patch of road is known for frequent accidents. Alcohol may have played a role in the incident.

Abstract: A 19-yr-old wildland firefighter, along with 7 other crew members, was killed in a traffic accident after spending the previous 11 days fighting forest fires. The victims were part of a 19 man crew ranging in age from 19 to 38. The crew had been demobilized the previous evening. Weather was sunny and dry. The crew had been on the road about 3 hrs when a crew driver in a 12-passenger van attempted to pass a semi-trailer on a downhill left-hand curve, in a marked no-passing zone. The van struck an oncoming semi-trailer head on. This particular patch of road is known for frequent accidents. Alcohol may have played a role in the incident.

Abstract: A 23-yr-old wildland firefighter, along with 7 other crew members, was killed in a traffic accident after spending the previous 11 days fighting forest fires. The victims were part of a 19 man crew ranging in age from 19 to 38. The crew had been demobilized the previous evening. Weather was sunny and dry. The crew had been on the road about 3 hrs when a crew driver in a 12-passenger van attempted to pass a semi-trailer on a downhill left-hand curve, in a marked no-passing zone. The van struck an oncoming semi-trailer head on. This particular patch of road is known for frequent accidents. Alcohol may have played a role in the incident.

Abstract: A 25-yr-old wildland firefighter, along with 7 other crew members, was killed in a traffic accident after spending the previous 11 days fighting forest fires. The victims were part of a 19 man crew ranging in age from 19 to 38. The crew had been demobilized the previous evening. Weather was sunny and dry. The crew had been on the road about 3 hrs when a crew driver in a 12-passenger van attempted to pass a semi-trailer on a downhill left-hand curve, in a marked no-passing zone. The van struck an oncoming semi-trailer head on. This particular patch of road is known for frequent accidents. Alcohol may have played a role in the incident.

Abstract: A 61-yr-old skipper of a 60 ft commercial fishing vessel is presumed dead, lost at sea. The skipper was fishing alone, last known position 60 nautical miles northwest of Coos Bay. A life ring was found off the coast of northern California several weeks later. The skipper’s body has not been found.

Abstract: A 52-yr-old rancher was killed when he was thrown from a horse he was training. While attempting to go down a steep embankment, the young 2-yr-old horse flipped off the harness and bolted to the side. The rancher fell off the horse into a gully of large rocks and hit the side of his head, dislocating his neck.

Abstract: A 50-yr-old logger, working as a faller, was killed by a falling tree in the falling zone of a coworker who was unaware of his presence. The faller, with over 25 years of experience and part owner of the logging firm, told the coworker he was going to check the site further up the road. The coworker had fallen six trees before being signaled by another worker to the road where the first tree had fallen. The faller had returned and started bucking the first tree, and was struck by the branches of the second tree as it fell close by. The victim did not notify anyone when he returned. The second tree was located behind a ridge where the coworker could not see the road.

Report: Operator killed when bulldozer slides off logging road (PDF) OR2003-29-1

Abstract: A 75-yr-old logger, operating a large D-6H Caterpillar tractor, was killed when the Cat toppled into a ravine. The operator was reopening an old skid road. The bulldozer lost traction on a flat rock under a surface of scrabble rock at the top of the hill, and slid backwards off the road against a tree. As the operator tried to turn downhill and get back on the road, the bulldozer slipped off a 20-25% grade and tumbled about 150 ft to a logging road, where the operator was ejected. The bulldozer bounced another 450 ft into a ravine. Fatal injuries probably occurred when the victim was thrown around in the cab, before being ejected.

Abstract: A 71-yr-old Native American fisherman was drowned in the Columbia River when his boat capsized while he was checking his fishing nets. He was not wearing a life jacket.

Abstract: A 34-yr-old male commercial fisherman drowned in the Columbia River. He had 20 years of experience on the river. He was not wearing a lifejacket. The boat did not appear to be overloaded, and all the proper safety equipment was on board. An 18-yr-old male commercial fisherman also drowned.

Abstract: A 18-yr-old male commercial fisherman drowned in the Columbia River. He was not wearing a lifejacket. The boat did not appear to be overloaded, and all the proper safety equipment was on board. A 34-yr-old male commercial fisherman also drowned.

Abstract: A 41-yr-old male truck driver in a semi-truck with an empty trailer, and a 48-yr-old highway striper in a 1-ton flatbed pickup truck, were both killed in a fiery head-on collision. The striper, hauling 26 drums on an open bed, attempted to pass four cars at high speed in a spot with poor visibility. The pickup appeared to lose a barrel while passing, and a sharp explosion was heard. The pickup began to fishtail, sideswiped an oncoming car, and then collided head-on with the semi. The pickup was already a ball of flame when it sideswiped the oncoming car. The semi was almost completely consumed in the flames. A few of the barrels on the pickup contained 5-10 gallons of a solvent, toluene, used in painting. The driver of the sideswiped car was uninjured.

Abstract: A 41-yr-old male truck driver in a semi-truck with an empty trailer, and a 48-yr-old highway striper in a 1-ton flatbed pickup truck, were both killed in a fiery head-on collision. The striper, hauling 26 drums on an open bed, attempted to pass four cars at high speed in a spot with poor visibility. The pickup appeared to lose a barrel while passing, and a sharp explosion was heard. The pickup began to fishtail, sideswiped an oncoming car, and then collided head-on with the semi. The pickup was already a ball of flame when it sideswiped the oncoming car. The semi was almost completely consumed in the flames. A few of the barrels on the pickup contained 5-10 gallons of a solvent, toluene, used in painting. The driver of the sideswiped car was uninjured.

Abstract: A 43-yr-old sales representative for a direct-sales firm died 4 days after daylong exposure to chemical byproducts during a thermal spraying demonstration indoors at a hydroelectric plant. The sales rep did not wear appropriate respiratory protection during the application. Two days later, he reported feeling ill, and died later in the day at home. Acute chemical pneumonia from metal exposure was the presumed cause of death.

Report: Vehicle strikes utility worker in short-duration work zone (PDF) OR2003-32-1

Abstract: A 57-yr-old gas utility worker was killed when an SUV entered a short term work zone and struck him on the edge of a five-lane city road. The worker was locating buried gas lines for a construction project. Traffic was light, speed posted 35 mph, weather dry and bright, and the road flat, straight, and unobstructed. The worker parked the company pickup half on the sidewalk and half in the bike lane, and correctly set up safety cones for a temporary worksite. He was wearing a bright red T-shirt. The SUV veered off the road and struck the worker when his back was turned to oncoming traffic. The driver of the SUV was allegedly talking on a cell phone.

Report: Farm driver overturns truck in irrigation ditch and drowns (PDF) OR2003-33-1

Abstract: A 20-yr-old male Hispanic farm truck driver was killed when his truck full of potatoes overturned in an irrigation ditch at the edge of a farm field The incident occurred about 13 hours after the driver began work in the morning on his sixth full day of work in a row. The truck had no seat belts. The truck verged into the loose soil at the edge of the ditch, and continued until it overturned and came to rest with the cab submerged in the water in the ditch. Water was 4-7 ft deep. Cause of death was probably drowning. The driver’s reported blood alcohol level was 0.03.

Abstract: A 57-yr-old male helicopter pilot, employed by a large timber firm was killed when a helicopter they were using to scout potential water sources for fire season struck an electric utility cable and crashed. The passenger was also killed. The pilot had been flying for 19 years. The helicopter had just come down out of low-hanging fog, traveling along a river in a remote and mountainous area, when it struck a neutral high-tension line 250-300 ft off the ground, just below the main rotor. The helicopter crashed in the river. Rescue workers found the two victims still strapped in their seats. The utility line has hung there since 1956 without warning markers. The pilot had been warned of lines near rivers, but the flight maps used did not depict overhead transmission lines in the area.

Abstract: A 53-yr old male state forestry supervisor was killed when a helicopter he was using to scout potential water sources for for season struck an electric utility cable and crashed. The pilot of the helicopter was also killed. The helicopter had just come down out of low hanging fog, traveling along a river in a remote and mountainous area, when it struck a neutral high-tension line 250-300 ft off the ground, just below the main rotor. The helicopter crashed in the river. Rescue workers found the the victims still strapped in their seats. The utility line was hung there since 1956 without warning markers. The pilot had been warned of lines near rivers, but the flight maps used did not depict overhead transmission lines in the area.

Abstract: A 24-yr-old logger, helping an experienced faller, was killed by the kickback of the tree they were falling. The tree was a 65 ft pine, 23 in. diameter. The novice logger was responsible for hammering a wedge into the tree to make it fall uphill. The faller saw the tree was beginning to fall and yelled twice for the logger to get away. Busy driving the wedge, the victim moved too late. The butt of the tree rose over him and struck him.

Abstract: A 60-yr-old owner/operator of a dump-truck business was killed when a wooden bridge collapsed under the weight of his truck while hauling a load of rock. The bridge was part of a residential driveway, and not the proper location for the delivery. The bridge was constructed of 4x6 planks, wide enough for a single vehicle, crossing a creek that was 15 ft wide. A rear wheel of the truck apparently broke the planks overhanging the main support beams, and the truck rolled off the bridge, coming to rest on the driver’s side. The operator was partially ejected from the cab and crushed.

Abstract: A 52-yr-old owner of a bus company was killed while piloting a single-engine Beech A36 aircraft in stormy weather. The pilot was traveling to meetings in different cities. He had been a pilot since 1995, and had logged 6,350 flight hours. The pilot approached an airstrip, and attempted to land in conditions of heavy rain, high wind gusts, and low visibility. The aircraft touched down, then powered up and swung upward toward a densely forested area. The plane impacted a hemlock tree 40-50 ft off the ground, trunk 18 in. diameter, then struck several smaller trees before crashing into the ground. There was no evidence of mechanical failure.

Alert: Truck mounted pile driver presents fatal electrocution hazard (PDF) HA-1-2003

Abstract: A 34-yr-old operator of a truck-mounted augur was killed when the augur’s 22 ft 7 in. tower came in contact with an 8,000-volt power line, 21 ft 8 in. off the ground. The operator was one of a three-man crew removing a line of guardrail posts. The workers were aware of two high-voltage lines, about 6 ft apart. Tree foliage made it difficult for the operator to see the lines, and moving the vehicle forward to the next post, he evidently mistook the far line for the near one. A loud cracking sound was heard when the augur grounded. The operator jumped from the vehicle, but the high voltage arced through space and through his body to ground.

Alert: Truck mounted pile driver presents fatal electrocution hazard (PDF) HA-1-2003

Abstract: A 20-yr-old construction worker was electrocuted while replacing a guardrail and posts on a highway construction project. A truck-mounted tower, adapted to hold the guardrail in position, came in contact with an 8,000-volt power line as the worker was removing bolts on a rail about 24 ft away. The crew was aware of the power lines, but the tower operator misjudged the narrower clearance in the new work location. Receiving an electric shock, the worker walked to a lower road to lie down, and died shortly after.

Abstract: A 46-yr-old female educator was killed in a traffic accident while traveling between schools. Her car was turning left from a left-turn lane, controlled by a separate signal. As she entered the intersection, a pickup truck struck her car. A witness traveling behind the pickup reported the light was red, and the educator’s car had a green light. The pickup did not slow down at the intersection. Posted speed was 55 mph.

Report: Worker is thrown from cab of crane and is crushed (PDF) OR2003-39-1

Abstract: A 66-yr-old worker operating a crane was killed when the crane toppled over while dredging a trout pond. The worker was a neighbor, experienced at operating heavy equipment. The rubber-tired boom crane was positioned on a slip of land between two ponds, angled about 30 degrees toward the pond being dredged, without outriggers. While pulling in a load from the middle of the pond, the crane became unstable and tipped. The operator was 9 ft off the ground in the cab. He was not wearing a personal restraint system, and either jumped or was thrown from the cab. The carriage crushed him when it fell.

Abstract: A 38-yr-old long-haul truck driver for a regional dairy foods business, operating a semi-truck and single trailer, was killed when his truck overturned on a freeway exit ramp. The truck was traveling at about 20 mph, according to an onboard computer. The exit ramp is posted at 50 mph. The truck rolled over at a right turn at the end of the ramp, and struck a telephone pole.

Abstract: A 54-yr-old chief executive of a financial-management firm was killed on the freeway when his van drifted off the roadway and crashed into a stone embankment in daylight and rainy weather. There was no evidence of mechanical failure or medical problems.

Alert: Parked Vehicles Kill (PDF) HA-2-2005

Abstract: A 69-yr-old owner/operator of a towing company, was killed while trying to stop his runaway tow truck. Two weeks earlier, the brake on the truck had failed at a service station, and the operator had to jump in and stop it. The unwitnessed fatal incident apparently repeated this event, with the operator trying to enter the cab of the tow truck while it was rolling downhill, outside an auto wrecking yard. The operator was dragged about 30 ft before striking a parked car. His rib cage was crushed between the door and cab of the tow truck.

Report: Effort to clear rock jam in operating rock crusher fatal (PDF) OR2003-40-1

Abstract: A 45-yr-old construction worker was killed while attempting to unbind a rock crusher. The worker was co-owner of a general construction firm that occasionally crushed its own rock for building roads. The worker had been trained on the equipment on first use 4 years earlier. The portable, horizontal impactor crushes rock with a hammer mill rotating at 2400 rpm. The worker attempted to loosen a rock jam in the intake of the unit, using a 5 ft iron pry bar. The pry bar made contact with the rotating impactor and was thrown out with great force, striking the worker in the neck.

Abstract: A 21-yr-old attendant at an ice rink died after inhaling helium at work to change his voice. After inhaling an unknown amount of helium from a tank, the attendant walked over and spoke with coworkers for less than a minute before collapsing. He started to convulse and tremble. He was pronounced dead 1 hour later, due to a massive air embolism caused by the high-pressure gas.

Abstract: A 36-yr-old forester, working with a team to girdle and top selected trees to create wildlife trees in a wilderness area, died when he fell 100 ft from a fir tree. The forester fell after he entered the tree canopy. He wore a climbing belt, but was “free climbing” without tie off ropes.

Abstract: A 54-yr-old owner of a diesel-engine repair and trucking business was killed when his log truck overturned. On a logging road with a load of logs, the driver failed to negotiate a curve on a 14-degree downgrade, causing the trailer to leave the roadway and pull over the tractor, which came to rest on the driver’s side.

Abstract: A 46-yr-old production worker was killed when a forklift he was riding on overturned. The worker was in a man-rated platform, elevated on the forks about 14 ft off the ground. The forklift operator moved in reverse to a new work location, and made a sudden turn, which caused the forklift to tip over onto its side. The worker remained in the cage up to the point of impact, when he struck his head on the pavement.

Abstract: A 46-yr-old owner/operator of a taxi service, was killed when his van left the highway, rolled over, and went airborne before coming to rest upside down. The driver was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected. The driver went off the road on his way to pick up a fare, traveling 43 mph in a 30 mph zone. There was no evident external cause for the crash. The victim had a history of medical problems and driving restrictions due to poor health.

Abstract: A 71-yr-old truck driver was killed when his log truck failed to negotiate a turn and ran off the roadway. The truck ran into trees and came to rest on the passenger side. The cab was sheared off just above the dash. The driver was ejected. The truck showed a speed of 45 mph, with no sign of braking. An officer on the scene suspected the incident could have resulted from a medical condition.

Abstract: A 45-yr-old crewman drowned when he fell from a crab boat 1½ miles offshore. The U.S. Coast Guard found the crewman, and reported later that the victim “simply fell off the boat.”

Abstract: A 65-yr-old owner of a printing/graphics firm was killed when his automobile struck black ice, rolled over and hit a tree.

Abstract: A 36-yr-old log truck driver was killed while passing an oncoming truck transporting a log loader. The boom of the log loader had not been adequately secured, and it swung outward into the oncoming lane just at the moment of passing. The cab of the log truck driven by the victim was completely shorn off.

Abstract: A 51-yr-old reserve police officer was killed while participating in a human chain to rescue a 13-yr-old boy swept out from the beach by a large wave and undertow. The officer was a retired police officer and a member of the cold-water rescue team. The surf was estimated to be 18-20 ft high. In shallow water, the officer was the anchor on a human chain with at least three others. Struck by a large wave, the officer was knocked off his feet and swept into the surf by the undertow. He wore a wetsuit, but no life vest. The youth was eventually rescued by a lowered basket from a rescue helicopter.

Abstract: A 68-year-old female retail clerk fell from the sixth step of a step ladder in a company storeroom, and died 5 days later. She sustained a fracture to the left knee and femur. The clerk was admitted to a local hospital, where she developed sepsis, and died on the way to another hospital for advanced care. Cause of death remains uncertain. The only unusual result found by the medical examiner was an “extensive infarcted colon,” which did not appear to be associated with the fracture.

Abstract: A 76-year-old self-employed logger, working as a faller, was killed by the branches of a juniper that apparently fell in the opposite direction from the way it had been cut to fall. The faller’s partner discovered him at lunch time with no apparent signs of life. The victim’s chainsaw was lying near the stump of the fallen tree. The fallers were in a remote location with a poor road, and the victim’s partner drove the victim back to his residence before calling for help. The medical examiner concluded the victim was already dead at the scene.

Report: Machine operator electrocuted while shoveling pellets (PDF) OR2004-05-1

Abstract: A 34-year-old machine operator was electrocuted while cleaning up wood pellets from beneath a pellet bag sealing machine and its conveyor system. The operator was using a long-handled scoop shovel to push spilled wood pellets into a central pile. He grasped a metal guard on the bagging machine with his left hand and leaned forward with the shovel in his right hand. His right wrist came into contact with exposed electrical controls on the wall near the bagging machine. The victim collapsed, and was later discovered by a coworker, deceased.

Abstract: A 23-year-old tank mechanic died when he entered a permit-required confined space. The mechanic was assigned to prepare for an inspection of a shipping container used to transport silicon tetrachloride. The tank had been purged with an inert nitrogen atmosphere. While waiting for the inspector, the mechanic entered the tank without testing the atmosphere, passed out, and died of asphyxiation. Upon discovering the victim about 45 min. later, a coworker jumped into the tank, also without testing the atmosphere, and lifted the victim up to others standing on top of the tank. Testing showed the atmosphere at the bottom of the tank to be about 12% oxygen, below the minimum safe level of about 20% oxygen.

Report: Sawmill worker crushed during debarker maintenance (PDF) OR2004-03-1

Abstract: A 24-year-old sawmill employee, working as a millwright, was killed in a routine maintenance operation, grinding the teeth of the feed rolls inside a log debarking machine. The millwright shut down electrical power to the debarker before entering the intake area, but did not block the holddown press roll with pins available on the frame of the machine. The press roll was held up by compressed air. While he was inside the debarker, another employee shut off the compressed-air system in a separate maintenance operation, which allowed air pressure to drop throughout the plant. As line pressure dropped, the press roll over the intake area of the debarker descended and crushed the millwright.

Abstract: A 34-year-old Hispanic female nursery worker was killed on the highway while traveling between farms. Conditions were wet and foggy. She drifted into the opposite lane on a curve, and collided head-on with a delivery van. She was declared dead at the scene. The van driver survived and was transported to a hospital.

Report: Parked forklift crushes operator against semi-trailer (PDF) OR2004-04-1

Abstract: A 42-year-old Hispanic forklift operator was crushed between the forklift he had been operating and a semi-trailer he was helping to load. Assisting the driver to tie down the load, the operator backed the forklift to the side of the trailer, put the automatic transmission into neutral, engaged the parking brake, and jumped out to take the strap thrown across the load by the truck driver. The forklift’s engine was left running. While the operator was facing the trailer, the forklift engaged in reverse and backed into him, crushing him against the trailer.

Abstract: A 23-year-old sales representative for a family advertising business was killed when he lost control of his SUV on the highway. On wet pavement, the sales rep abruptly switched lanes toward an exit, lost control and struck a highway sign. The sales rep was apparently not using the seatbelt. Emergency responders confirmed the victim dead at the scene.

Abstract: A 33-year-old self-employed contractor was killed while operating a post-hole augur attached to a tractor to install fence posts. The contractor was hired by a friend to do some work on their land. The augur bit was suspended from the ground and had not yet made a hole when the contractor’s clothing apparently got caught on the rotating bit and pulled him into it. There were no witnesses to the event. The victim was found dead at the scene.

Abstract: A 58-year-old supervisor at a recycling facility injured his lower leg while riding a four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle at work, and died 4 months later (Feb 27, 2004). The supervisor ran over his own left foot while turning to avoid an oncoming tractor. He was treated at the hospital, released, and seen routinely for wound care. There was concern for vascular supply to the lower extremity, due to a history of heart disease. On the day of death, the supervisor experienced shortness of breath during a scheduled check-up and was transferred to the emergency department, where he eventually expired.

Abstract: A 47-year-old construction foreman was killed when he walked behind a drilling rig at a large construction project. Construction was located on a steep hillside, and several project subcontractors were in close proximity as they worked. The foreman had 27 yrs of construction experience. The drilling rig operator could not see the foreman from where he sat, and was given no warning that a person was in the vicinity of the rig. As the drilling operator rotated the drilling head, the rear of the platform crushed the victims’ head against a concrete retaining wall. The injury was immediately fatal.