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FORT SNELLING STATE PARK POST RD, RIVER BOTTOMS, MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN 55120
Standard 19260021 B02
Initial $21,000
Standard 19260106 A
Operator Is Fatally Crushed When Backhoe Overturns
On October 22, 2012, Employee #1, of S.M. Hentges & Sons Inc., was operating a b ackhoe excavator, dredging vegetation and sedimentation from a pond used to coll ect runoff from an airport. The pond covered approximately 4 acres. It was 30 ft . to 40 ft. deep. The pond's top 2 ft. was water, and the remaining depth consis ted of cattail bog and decomposing vegetation. Employee #1 was operating the bac khoe on top of wood mats used to support the backhoe and prevent it from sinking into the pond. He was keeping three mats underneath the backhoe and moving one mat in front as he moved forward. The mat farthest to the rear rolled, causing t he backhoe to begin sliding into the water. Employee #1 attempted to rotate the backhoe cab to stop the machine from sliding. He was found crushed to death, pin ned between the top of the cab and the mat. Minnesota OSHA investigated and prop osed two serious citations.
Data sourced from Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry, Minnesota Attorney General, federal OSHA, and municipal permit offices. Records are public and may not reflect pending appeals or corrections.