Earth-moving machinery - an analysis and assessment of accident statistics

The operation of mobile equipment such as loaders or dump trucks is a source of danger in the building materials industry. The risks arising from the use of mobile equipment can be direct or indirect. All types of accidents represent direct risks. The operator of the equipment themselves can be affected, for example when their equipment is involved in an accident or fall, as well as uninvolved third parties who are hit or run over by vehicles. Repair and maintenance work on vehicles is also a constant source of risk for personnel. Indirect risks are presented by illnesses which can be caused by constant and un-ergonomic loads. In the year 2002, 8078 notifiable accidents were reported to the German quarrymen's employers' liability insurance association (Steinbruchs -Berufsgenossenschaft - StBG). This corresponds to 54.39 accidents per 1000 employees. In the same year there were 21 fatal accidents. These figures do not include any information on the type of accident, but it is known that a considerable number of these accidents were associated with the use of mobile equipment. Although both the overall number of accidents and the number of fatal accidents could be reduced in recent years, the numbers are still too high. Accidents do not only endanger lives, they also prevent jobs from being completed and they burden the company and result in increased costs. Apart from accidents at work, material damage must also be considered, which does not involve injuries but can result in significant damage to company assets. When considering the design of earth-moving machines, it is striking how the manufacturers, for example in the design of loaders, always retain the original basic design and how fundamental changes e.g. in the access steps, have not taken place.