CANTERBURY DOWNS

EMPLOYEE KILLED WHEN RUN OVER BY RACE TRACK STARTING GATE

EMPLOYEE #1 ATTEMPTED TO BOARD A TRACTOR-DRAWN STARTING GATE AT A RACE TRACK WHI LE THE GATE WAS BEING MOVED TO A STARTING POSITION. THE GATE WAS MOVING BETWEEN 5 AND 7 MPH. THE PONTOON WHICH THE EMPLOYEE WAS ATTEMPING TO GAIN ACCESS TO WAS LOCATED 37 INCHES ABOVE THE GROUND AND AND DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE STEERABLE RE AR WHEELS OF THE GATE. THE EMPLOYEE SLIPPED AND FELL BENEATH THE WHEELS. THE ENT IRE LENGTH OF HIS BODY WAS RUN OVER. THE GATE WEIGHED APPROXIMATELY 20,000 POUND S AND IS 60 FEET LONG, 14 FEET HIGH AND 10 FEET WIDE. THE PONTOON WHICH THE EMPL OYEE TRIED TO GAIN ACCESS TO IS A LEDGE, 7 FEET, 3 INCHES LONG AND 8 INCHES WIDE WITH ROUNDED EDGES. EMPLOYEES USE THE LEDGE AS A WALKING SURFACE WHEN LEADING H ORSES INTO THE INDIVIDUAL STALLS OF THE GATE.