In a recent fatal incident, a logging truck driver was in the process of connecting a trailer when it rolled over him. The unit involved in the incident consisted of a truck, a single-axle jeep, and a tri-axle trailer. At the loading area - a green spur road on a 25% grade - the trailer was mechanically removed from the back of the truck and attached to the jeep. Once the jeep was extended and locked in, the driver set the maxi-brake on the truck. He then released the trailer's maxi-brake control switch in the cab. This allowed air to reach the jeep and inflate its airbags while he was connecting the trailer's electrical cables and air lines. The trailer's brakes remained dynamited as no air was able to reach the trailer at this time. Releasing the trailer's maxi-brake control switch was incorrect, it should have remained on until all of the connections were made and the driver had returned to the cab.

The driver crouched behind the jeep and connected the two air-line hoses between the jeep and the trailer. He then opened the manual gate valve at this location. This allowed air to go past the jeep to the trailer, releasing the trailer's brake while the driver was still behind the jeep finishing the electrical connections.

The entire unit was held by only the truck's brakes. However, the weight of the trailer and jeep was able to overcome the traction between the wheels and the steep road surface. As the truck was pushed downhill, the driver was run over by the leading wheels of the trailer.

• Develop and implement a safe work procedure outlining the sequence of steps required to park, to connect trailer and jeep, and to air up brake systems in all situations.
• Drivers must ensure that all maxi-brakes are set and that the truck/trailer unit is stable and will not move before dismounting from the cab.
• Plan the cherry-picking and stacking of logs on rights-of-way to avoid areas that are extremely steep or confined.
• Plan roads to avoid steep grades, and ensure the road is prepared to hold logging truck traffic.

Relevant sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation*

26.2
Planning and conducting

The management of forestry operations must plan and conduct such operations in a manner consistent with this Regulation and with recognized safe work practices.

26.56
Log landings

(1) Log landings and other work areas must be ...

(b) located on stable and relatively level ground ...

3.3
Contents of program

The occupational health and safety program must be designed to prevent injuries and occupational diseases, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the program must include ...

(c) appropriate written instructions, available for reference by all workers, to supplement this Occupational Health and Safety Regulation ...

* The sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation listed in this bulletin do not imply a breach of the Regulation on the part of any party that may have been involved with this incident. The purpose in listing specific sections of the Regulation is to make readers aware of some of the applicable sections of the Regulation.