May Newsletter

Beyond the Minimum:
Lessons from a Fatal Incident

This summary from a 2023 Alberta OHS investigation highlights the importance of hazard identification, assessment and control, as well as pre-use inspection and maintenance programs on the farm.

What Happened

In 2023, a seasonal worker was instructed to finish pressure washing the floor of a crop storage facility on a farm. As soon as the worker plugged in the pressure washer and turned it on, they were electrocuted and died. No one else was there at the time. Key findings to note included:

• The day before the incident, two other workers had been pressure washing the same area. While moving the pressure washer, the power cord pulled apart from the plug. The two workers tried to fix it themselves, but rewired the cord incorrectly and never turned the pressure washer on. They then left the equipment unplugged and went to help with another task.

• The worker who was electrocuted was not there the previous day and did not know about the attempted cord repair.

• An investigation later found that the grounding wire in the plug was connected incorrectly, making the pressure washer extremely dangerous.

• All of the workers involved were new and young.

Likely Cause

Due to the fact that the plug was wired incorrectly, the entire pressure washer and its hoses became live with electricity as soon as it was plugged in. When the worker touched an exposed metal part, most likely the metal fitting on the spray wand, they received a fatal electric shock.

Corrective Actions After the Incident

Things the employer did to prevent a similar incident from happening again:

• Created a policy on equipment maintenance.

• Created a policy on property, equipment, and tool damage.

• Created a policy related to young workers.

• Created an awareness presentation on electric hazards in their workplace that was given to all workers.

• Revised their hazard assessment for pressure washer use.

Prevention Highlights from Alberta OHS

• Employers must have written hazard assessments and control reports that:

  • Identify all existing and potential hazards.

  • Identify the measures taken to eliminate or control all identified hazards.

  • Involve affected workers in the hazard assessment and control process.

  • Follow the hierarchy of controls.

• Workers must tell their employer or supervisor right away if they see anything unsafe or dangerous at the work site.

• Workers must not perform work for which they have not been trained or authorized. Farms must communicate this and ensure workers are aware of this.

• Employers must make sure equipment is set up, used, maintained, taken apart and handled as the manufacturer (or an engineer) specifies.

Incident Source: Alberta OHS Investigation File OHS-297645

AgSafe Alberta Resources

• To learn more about hazards and how to control them, as well as how to create a farm-specific safety program, refer to the Alberta FarmSafe Plan Manual and the free, online FarmSafe Plan Learning Program.

• Download and customize this Inspection Policy and Procedure to suit your farm: Inspection Policy and Procedure

• Download and customize these training-related forms:
  Training and Competency Policy
  Training and Competency Procedure
  Training Checklist

  Skill and Competency Evaluation Form