DATE: October 23,
2003
INCIDENT TYPE: Vehicle
Accident during Traffic Control
LOCATION: District
6
TYPE OF WORK ACTIVITY:
Asphalt Grinding
THE ACCIDENT: On Tuesday,
October 14, 2003, the Coarsegold Maintenance Crew working with other
units from the Fresno Maintenance Area were involved in a grinding project
on Madera 41 near Highway 145. A vehicle towing a trailer heavily loaded
with building materials traveling north on Highway 41 approaching the
work area lost control and crossed into the opposite lane and continued
onto the shoulder where it struck a parked Caltrans 10-Yard dump truck
staged for the project.
CONCLUSIONS: No employees
were injured as a result of this collision and the driver of the vehicle
that hit our truck was very fortunate to escape serious injury. The
10-Yard sustained significant damage to the left front wheel and had
to be towed from the scene. This incident shows the importance of maintaining
awareness of moving traffic even when the motorists are moving under
guidance in a work zone with traffic control in place. Chapter 8 guidelines
direct workers to face traffic and have an escape route planned in case
of accidents occurring such as this one. Always use a vehicle as physical
protection from moving traffic and use lookouts when necessary. It appears
that all required safety procedures and policies where followed by our
employees and as a result no injuries occurred.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Discuss
this incident at your next tailgate safety meeting and stress the significance
of following the rules and guidelines outlined in the Chapter 8 Manual
and the Code of Safe Operating Practices Manual.
