11.06.2008

No Harness takes another

An employee of the city of Bryan, Texas, has died from injuries he sustained on Monday when the utility type truck mounted lift he was working from was struck by a larger articulated truck throwing him from the basket to the ground.

Alex Constancio, 50, was working on a traffic signal on Highway 21 when his truck-mount was hit by a passing truck which had swerved to avoid a car that had pulled up.

The impact tossed him around seven metres to the ground causing extensive injuries. He was taken to St Joseph hospital but died yesterday from his injuries. He was apparently not wearing a harness.

Constancio, a transportation supervisor, had worked for the city of Bryan Transportation Department for over 18 years, having started out as a traffic technician.

Bryan City manager David Watkins said: “Employees like Alex are models who set the standard for excellence. We are deeply saddened by this loss and our hearts reach out to his family.”

Constancio was married with two daughters.

Vertikal Comment

This type of accident can always happen when working along side a major road, when a large truck swerves off the road, as in this case, not amount of cordoning off is going to stop it.

The only protection is some form of barrier, such as a large vehicle with warning sign parked a sort way up traffic. Even this is only partial protection. So when it does happen the operator’s best protection is to wear a good quality full body harness and short lanyard.

On smaller impacts it can prevent injury and in larger ones it at least gives the operator a fighting chance.