Workplace accidents can happen on any job site, but can be particularly injurious or fatal when large mobile machinery is involved. A Charlotte man died tragically Sunday, August 7, after being run over by a piece of industrial equipment.
The 46-year-old man was moving tractor-trailers around a north Charlotte loading dock at Howell Motor Freight. He was using a piece of equipment known as a yard-hopper — the cab of a tractor-trailer used specifically for shuffling tractor-trailers. He apparently exited the vehicle momentarily for unknown reasons when the yard-hopper began to move and struck him. Emergency personnel declared him dead on the scene.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the workplace death to determine if there was any defect in the equipment that might have contributed to its crushing the worker. It is unknown whether or not the industrial equipment had been poorly maintained or if it became mobile due to operator error, possibly inattention or drowsiness.
Tragic workplace accidents like this one are impossible to eliminate entirely, but careful maintenance of dangerous equipment and attentive operation by workers tasked with using large machinery goes a long way toward bolstering safety in the workplace. Keeping the workplace safe requires the cooperation of both management and employees who are dedicated to the well-being of all.
After such an incident occurs, it can be difficult to focus on handling your affairs. The assistance of a qualified legal professional can help those who have suffered a workplace injury or lost a loved one to a workplace accident ensure that their claims are heard and that their losses are compensated fairly.
Source: The Charlotte Observer, “Man dies at north Charlotte business after being run over by ‘yard hopper’,” Mark Price, Aug. 08, 2016
