Excavator was ‘operating beyond its working load limit’ before fatal incident, ATSB investigation report finds
A site manager was operating an excavator on train tracks when it became unstable and toppled over, causing the death of the vehicle’s sole occupant.
Tasmania
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A hi-rail excavator was “operating beyond its working load limit” before toppling over and causing the death of the vehicle’s sole occupant, Jason James, an investigation has found.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released its findings into the fatal excavator death of Mr James at Evandale on July 20, 2022.
The hi-rail excavator was being used to lift an infrastructure trailer during planned maintenance work on train tracks near the Evandale Road level crossing.
The ATSB report found that the excavator became unstable and toppled.
The bureau’s Transport Safety Director, Kerri Hughes, said Mr James - who was the site manager - died and a spotter sustained minor injuries.
“The total load being lifted, in combination with the configuration of the excavator, meant the lift was overweight for the excavator in both civil and hi-rail modes,” Ms Hughes said.
“Based on signage within the excavator, it was very likely that the excavator was regularly exceeding the working load limit for both road and hi-rail modes for the works.”
The report also determined that the vehicle’s suspension oscillation lock system “was found to have been disengaged”.
Ms Hughes said that while Mr James was trained and qualified to operate the vehicle, they likely had limited experience and familiarity with it.
She also said that in the incident’s immediate aftermath, TasRail stopped using excavators in hi-rail mode.
The organisation also held a safety forum - which resulted in the creation of a process flow chart for using earthmoving equipment as a lifting device, accompanied by a compliance checklist.
“This accident reiterates the critical need for equipment to be operated by qualified and experienced operators and that working load limits are actively validated before commencing a task,” Ms Hughes said.
“Further, selecting appropriate equipment, fit for purpose, reduces the risk of administrative risk controls becoming a last line of defence.”
Originally published as Excavator was ‘operating beyond its working load limit’ before fatal incident, ATSB investigation report finds
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