A worker was fatally injured when he was crushed between the cross member of the boom lift arm and the frame of a skid-steer loader.

He had decided on his own to teach his co-worker how to operate the loader, so he lowered the bucket and safety bar, stepped off and invited the co-worker to sit in the operator’s seat. The victim crouched on the cross member, faced his co-worker and explained the controls. The victim leaned forward and reached into the cab to demonstrate. He activated the control to raise the boom, but it also raised him, causing his head to hit the front of the cab roof. He then used the control to lower the boom but lost his balance. His feet slipped off the cross member and the lower part of his torso was caught between the skid-steer loader’s frame and cross member as the bucket lowered. He died in hospital 18 days later.

There’s a lesson here for anyone who might want to share his knowledge. Don’t train anyone how to operate dangerous equipment unless you are authorized and qualified to do so.