Case Report: 19CA003

A water truck operator died after being struck by a pressurized hose

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Summary

A water truck operator (the victim) died after being struck by a pressurized water hose. The victim was filling up a water truck with water from a hydrant that was connected to a water tank when the incident occurred. The hose that was used to make the transfer was not of sufficient strength or type to accommodate the water pressure involved. The normal procedure was to first open the valve on the truck followed by the valve on the hydrant. On the day of the incident, the valve on the truck was not opened. The CA/FACE investigator determined that, in order to prevent similar incidents, employers with workers who operate water trucks should:

Introduction

On August 19, 2019, at approximately 3:00 p.m., a 67-year-old male water truck operator, working as a seasonal employee, sustained severe head injuries when a pressurized water hose burst and he was knocked to the ground. He died two days later from his injury. The CA/FACE investigator received notification of this incident on August 29, 2019 from the Cal/OSHA Weekly Fatality Report. On August 30, 2019, contact was made with the employer of the victim. On September 5, 2019, the CA/FACE investigator traveled to the location where the incident occurred and interviewed the general manager, the victim’s supervisor, and the safety supervisor. The county coroner, fire department, and sheriff’s department report of the incident were also obtained and reviewed.  

Employer

The employer of the victim was a cooperative of almond growers that provided hulling and shelling services to grower members. The cooperative had 550 almond grower members and had been in business since 1966.  The cooperative had 95 employees; 18 were full time and the remainder were seasonal workers.

Written Safety Programs and Training

The cooperative had a written injury and illness prevention program (IIPP) with all the essential elements required by law. Safety meetings were held on a monthly basis and were documented. The safety supervisor provided all safety and other trainings for staff. The victim had received training on the proper procedures for transferring water and had done this task many times in the past. The seasonal workers began working during the first week of August and already attended the cooperative’s mandated safety meeting. 

Worker Information

The victim was a 67-year-old water truck operator for the cooperative. He had worked 40 hours per week on a seasonal basis for the past six years.  

Description of Work

The victim was performing dust control by spraying water on the almond fields that surrounded the facility using the cooperative’s water truck. When the water in the truck was empty, he would normally refill it at the designated hydrant. However, because the groundwater supply was low, the normal hydrant used was not available. Arrangements were made with a neighboring business to use their water system which included a 500,000-gallon water storage tank which supplied water at a higher pressure. The normal procedure was to connect the hose (provided with the water truck) to the water tank hydrant outlet ball valve, then to the inlet ball valve on the truck. Once the hose was secured in place, the ball valve on the truck was to be opened first, followed by the ball valve on the hydrant. Water would then flow from the tank to the truck under a pressure that varied from 125 -140 psi.

Investigation

Cause of Death

Recommendations

Exhibits 

Exhibit 1. The fire hydrant involved in the incident.

References

Authors