Overview:
A pipeline crew was in the process of loading flume pipe, a heavy-duty version of culvert piping. The crew used a wheeled loader to pick the pipe from the ground level and place it on a high-boy trailer.
The crew had successfully loaded multiple joints of flume pipe. While loading the last joint, the operator struggled to pick it up with the open-forked loader (no grapple forks). A supervisor attempted to aid the loader operator and, in doing so, placed himself in the line of fire.
The loader operator tried picking the pipe joint up, which was 48 ft in length and weighed approximately 5,000 lbs. The pipe rolled forward onto the supervisor’s leg and ankle, causing a significant lower leg injury. The supervisor was treated on-site and taken to the hospital, where he underwent surgery.
