A terrible incident in Tennessee, in which an equipment operator died from severe burns, shows how important it is to keep equipment inspected and properly maintained. A 67-year-old machine operator was using an old bulldozer to remove shale at the company's fill-dirt site when a hydraulic line leading from the engine compartment to the lift cylinder tube assembly (at the front of the bulldozer) burst. Hot hydraulic fluid sprayed across the hot exhaust manifold and a fire quickly ensued. The operator's clothing caught fire. The victim, a 30-year employee of the grading/excavation company, was able to bail out of the burning machine. Seeing […]