Author -
Submitted By -Side Load Digger Accident
In reference to the side load digger accident. We were set up to dig on a slight incline on rocky and a small amount of snow. We had installed the tire chains in order to have better control of the digger. We then placed some 4inch outrigger pads on the low side of the machine and then leveled the digger. The digger operator started to dig the hole and just broke the frost when he hit a large rock about 1 foot under the ground. The side load protection activated forcing the auger to move to the left and out of the hole. This movement was very hard and pulled the digger off the outrigger pads. The digger then hit the frozen ground and then it started sliding down the hill and didn't stop until it hit the barrow ditch.