A 46-year-old truck mechanic was changing the air chamber on a truck to re-build the air brake. To test his work, he asked the driver to start the truck. The driver started the engine from outside the truck. The truck should have been in neutral, but it was in gear and started to roll. The differential hit the mechanic in the shoulder, breaking his collar bone.
Because he had chocked the wheels, his life was saved. However, he was off work for 58 days and his claim cost over $9,000. Even though this is a task the mechanic does every day and a driver he trusts, he has learned from this experience. In his own words, he said that he will never be under the truck when it starts. And before working on a truck, he will make sure it’s in neutral, himself. That’s good advice.
The above information was derived from Publication No. 90-34-2009 (SHARP Program, Washington Dept. of Labor & Industries)
