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Poor Backhoe Maintenance Tells a Sad Tale
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
opflow
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1551-8701
pISSN - 0149-8029
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8701.1990.tb00242.x
Subject(s) - crew , starter , digging , computer science , aeronautics , trench , operator (biology) , automotive engineering , engineering , operations management , embedded system , biochemistry , chemistry , repressor , transcription factor , gene , archaeology , organic chemistry , layer (electronics) , history
A few years ago, a three‐man crew was digging a trench for a new water line with a backhoe. The hoe was not maintained according to any scheduled program recommended by the manufacturer's specifications. Among the many maintenance problems with the hoe was the fact that the starter button did not work and the safety catch on the gearshift was broken. In order to start the machine, the operator used a screwdriver to engage the starter. When he did, the gearshift engaged causing the vehicle to lunge forward. When it did, the vehicle ran over a co‐worker and he was killed.