Liberty Fire Excavator Tip Over 2017

On October 1 near the end of shift, the Task Force Leader (TFLD) and an Excavator Operator scouted a steep section of dozer line that needed repair. After evaluating the line, the Operator said he could complete the line working upslope. They also identified the point where the Operator would stop, turn around, and begin walking the excavator back down the slope. The excavator worked the dozer line successfully. However, while making his way back down the slope, he lost traction and started to slide. The Operator attempted to stop the slide by setting his boom on the ground—but forward momentum carried him over his bucket and the thumb of his bucket got stuck under the excavator blade. This resulted in the machine tipping over on its side and trapping the operator inside the cab.

RLS, Heavy Equipment