Real World Accident
Accident Summary
A cement handler was fatally injured when he fell through an open hatch on a barge while attempting to cover a dust collection hatch with a tarp. He landed on the barge floor 20 feet below.
Worker suffers a fatality from falling through hatch on barge.
The accident occurred because management policies and procedures did not require that persons working on barges wear fall protection while working near open hatches.
A risk assessment to identify hazards and establish safe procedures had not been conducted to protect persons loading material on barges.