Death of Worker Hit by Concrete Block Costs Farm Owner $18,000

Farm workers building a bridge were trying to place a concrete block, which weighed over 2,800 pounds, onto an existing concrete pad at the top of a ravine. The farm owner used a tractor equipped with lifting forks to raise the concrete block using a chain and fabric strap. As the concrete block was being lowered, the chain slipped off the forks and the block began rolling down the ravine’s slope. A worker who was below the tractor couldn’t get out of the way and was killed instantly. The farm owner pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that a concrete block was moved in a safe manner and was fined $18,000 [Murray Bering, Govt. News Release, Aug. 29, 2016].