A hydraulic cylinder crushed the cab of a dump truck, fatally injuring the driver.

The incident occurred when the driver was dumping a load of waste from the truck. When the dump box was raised to its full height, the cylinder on the hoist broke. The part of the cylinder attached to the truck fell forward against the cab. The dump box then fell on this part of the cylinder. This caused the cylinder to shear off part of the cab and smash it to the floor of the truck.

The trapped driver suffered serious injuries, including a broken spine causing paralysis. He died of cardiac arrest in the hospital.

Preventive maintenance and inspection are recommended to help prevent equipment failure such as this. Dump trucks and other heavy equipment must be serviced regularly and hours of operation logged.

Some materials are heavier than others, a situation which can cause overloading of dump trucks. Certain methods of emptying and cleaning dump trucks can cause damage. Use a water hose and shovel to remove residue, not a backhoe which can damage the truck. Banging the tailgate is another poor way to clean the truck because of the damage it causes. Install a box liner if necessary.

In this incident the victim was alone. Workers on their own should have some means of emergency communication.