The widespread use of heavy equipment in construction and roadwork has made this type of work much easier for those who do it. Arguably, the equipment makes the work more dangerous as well. This is true regardless of how the equipment is being used and is illustrated in a fatal work accident that occurred in Pennsylvania earlier this month.

A 51-yar-old man died after the backhoe, which he was in the process of repairing, early one morning ran him over. The owners of the backhoe said that they had called for his assistance in repairing the construction machinery earlier in the morning. According to one of the owners, at the time of the accident the man was by himself.

The scene of the accident was the lot where the piece of equipment is stored, not a construction site. It is apparently regularly used in the trucking business the owners of it run.

Work related accidents resulting in serious injuries or death often prompt a review by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This appears to be the case in this instance. The agency is expected to join the investigations that have been commenced by both the coroner's office as well as local police.

Though there may have been one witness to the incident-a man who was waiting for a bus-the actual cause of the tragic accident does not appear to be known. When the backhoe began to roll, it was not on a jack. The pending investigations will likely provide more insight into just what happened.

Source: Express-Times, "Man identified in fatal backhoe accident in Bethlehem – UPDATE," Oct. 12, 2012