November 20, 2024

Falls from aerial lifts and crashes with stopped vehicles

As a service to our policyholders, Texas Mutual shares serious workplace injury trends based on catastrophic injuries and fatalities reported to our claims department. Not all of these reported injuries are covered by workers’ compensation insurance, but our goal is to help you ensure these types of incidents do not happen in your workplace. Find safety tips below to help keep your employees safe on the job.

If you have questions, we encourage you to contact our safety services support center at 844-WORKSAFE (967-5723) or safety@texasmutual.com.

In this alert:

• Falls from aerial lifts
• MVAs with stopped vehicles

Falls from aerial lifts

An employee was working on a scissor lift with their fall protection disconnected while wearing earbuds. Unable to hear a co-worker’s warning, the employee stepped off the edge and fell to the ground below. In a separate incident, an employee was performing construction work on an aerial lift in windy conditions. They stepped too close to the side of the basket and also fell to the ground.

Falls from aerial lifts can occur in various settings where elevated work is required and can lead to severe injuries or fatalities. Proper safety procedures and awareness of potential hazards are crucial for maintaining safety while working on an aerial lift.

• Thoroughly inspect the aerial lift before each use, including guardrails and other safety devices to ensure the equipment is working properly.
• Be aware of weather and don’t operate the lift in winds exceeding the manufacturer’s recommended limit.
• While working, always wear a harness and attach the lanyard to the correct anchor point on the boom or bucket.
• Keep all access gates closed while working and never exceed the load capacity of the lift, considering the combined weight of employees, tools and materials.
• Keep your feet firmly on the floor of the lift platform and avoid climbing on or leaning over guardrails or using other objects to extend your reach.

MVAs with stopped vehicles

An employee was driving on a highway to make a delivery when they encountered a vehicle stopped to make a turn. Unable to slow down in time, the employee’s vehicle collided with the stopped car. In a separate incident, an employee was driving to a jobsite when the truck in front of them came to a sudden stop. Despite attempting to swerve, the employee rear-ended the truck, which resulted in multiple injuries.

Collisions involving stopped or suddenly slowing vehicles can lead to severe injuries or fatalities. Proper attention to the road and defensive driving practices are key to staying safe on the road.

• Always maintain a safe following distance from the vehicle in front of you, allowing enough time to react to sudden stops or changes in traffic flow.
• Continuously scan the road ahead for potential hazards, including turning vehicles, traffic congestion or other obstacles that may require sudden braking.
• Avoid distractions while driving, such as using mobile devices, eating or adjusting vehicle controls, to ensure full attention is given to the road.
• Adjust your speed according to road and weather conditions, allowing for increased stopping distance when necessary.
• Practice defensive driving techniques, anticipating the actions of other drivers and being prepared to react safely to unexpected situations.

Get free safety resources

Texas Mutual policyholders have access to thousands of free training materials in our multimedia safety resource center, including our safety catalog with up-to-date resources.

To access the free materials, log in to your texasmutual.com account and select Safety. If you need help accessing safety resources or you have a safety question, call us toll-free at 844-WORKSAFE (967-5723).

Download a PDF (216KB) version of the November Safety Alert.