Two mechanics, traveling in separate trucks went to the dragline to trouble shoot a problem with the dragline. This required them to drive around the front of the dragline beneath the boom fairleads and along the edge of the spoil embankment. Because of the dragline’s location near the embankment edge, the dragline operator had to swing the dragline slowly while the trucks traveled between the walking shoes as they rotated along the edge of the embankment. The mechanics parked adjacent to the bulldozer outside the radius of the walking shoes. At lunch time, the mechanics left the dragline and returned to their trucks intending to travel back to the shop for lunch and to get parts. The first mechanic contacted the dragline operator and requested clearance to pull in front of the dragline. The operator swung the dragline toward the truck to allow the mechanic to pull the truck into the space between the walking shoes. The mechanic and operator communicated over the radio as the dragline started to swing the opposite direction to let the truck cross underneath the boom. Unknown to the dragline operator, the second mechanic had pulled his truck in behind the first truck. As the dragline began to swing, the left hand walking shoe contacted the second truck, causing it to flip on the driver’s side, underneath the dragline operator’s compartment. The momentum of the dragline pushed the truck over the embankment and then it rolled to the bottom of the embankment. It came to rest upright. The mechanic was transported to the hospital where he was diagnosed with muscle spasms of the lower back and acute impact trauma to his internal organs.
