Worker’s Life Over in the Flick of a Switch

Properly trained workers know exactly what will happen when they operate a machine switch – but if a switch is tripped in a moment of inattention or confusion, all bets are off.

A 44-year-old recycling plant worker suffered fatal head injuries while repairing a hydraulic lift in Washington State. He accidentally activated a switch on the lift, causing it to depressurize and fall onto him.

Co-workers pulled the victim free and he was rushed to hospital in Seattle, where he died. The victim was not a new worker. He had been employed at the center for 15 years. Investigators from Washington State’s Department of Labor and Industries are attempting to determine the cause of the incident, including whether there were violations of any standards, such as lockout/tagout.