Fatal Log Skidder Accident - Oregon

[Diggin It]

County worker died using a faulty logging skidder owned by his supervisor's son
Oregonian|46 minutes ago
CORVALLIS (AP) A Benton County road worker who died on the job was operating a poorly maintained piece of leased logging equipment that was owned by his supervisor's son, according to findings from two investigations. Pete Neuman, 59, was using a John Deere skidder to move logs at the site of a road-building project in the Hells Canyon ...

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[shovelmike]

Wow, a sad story.

 

[Diggin It]

I'm guessing the lawyers will be busy .....

"An internal review by the county and an investigation by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office found that there were numerous safety issues with the skidder, including frequent stalling, brake failures, bald rear tires and a jury-rigged seat belt.

Investigators also determined that Jim Stouder, the longtime head of the county road department, had approved a rental agreement for the skidder that paid his son, Charlie Stouder, more than $7,000."

"The skidder was obtained through Jackson Luck Enterprises, a Corvallis excavation company that has a yearly materials and services contract with the county.

But Jackson Luck didn’t own the skidder. Charlie Stouder did.

In his own interviews with investigators, records show, Jim Stouder explained that skidders can be hard to find and aren’t readily available to rent. When it came time to line up equipment for the Starr Creek-Hells Canyon job, he set up a three-way deal involving the county, Jackson Luck and his son.

“(Jim) Stouder said he knew Charlie Stouder had a skidder,” a sheriff’s deputy wrote in his report, “so he got Charlie Stouder and Jackson Luck in contact with each other.”"

It gets better as you read further:

Death at Hells Canyon | Local | gazettetimes.com

 

[Industrial Toys]

Killed by an old piece of JUNK! I was also on a steep hill years ago with a 24,000# ZOOM BOOM. It stalled and I had one operation of the brake pedal and nothing after that. The PARKING brake did not work. Not much steering without the engine running either. Fortunately, I had a place to drive, although I ran over some equipment before it stopped. I repaired the Parking Brake after that!

 

[ruffdog]

Will the county taxpayers be the ones that ultimately pay for these sweet deals?

 

[Jstpssng]

Will the county taxpayers be the ones that ultimately pay for these sweet deals?

They always are, one way or another.

 

[JamesHW]

The skidder was rented from the individual through a third party rental company, so I suspect if an insurance claim is filed it will encompass the owner of the skidder, his father supervising the project, the company which acted as a conduit to the rental and the town.

 

[coldsteelva]

The 3rd party (that had a contract with the jurisdiction) acted as a rental agent yet never laid eyes on the piece of equipment THEY were renting out. Their own insurance is going to have to pay up (and better settle early).

 

[blacktruck]

Sad situation indeed. Probably an experienced enough operator and a manager looking to make a buck for his family. It is sometimes hard to find just the right piece of equipment at the rental yard but that does not excuse using sub-standard and unsafe equipment. I would expect a lot of explaining to be done by every person connected with that tragic event. If it were to make it to court I would think there will be plenty of fault assessed to every party involved.

 

[hslogger]

I knew the guy. Know the family. I know some of the situation.He was ajay' squared away equipment operator all his life, growing up in a family of many, who operated a local quarry. He was the best. The problem is that he figured being the best, he should run the POS cull and it cost him. The poop chute deal with JL being the intermediary on the rental supply is a factor that will have to be dealt with. That is addition to the father and son sweetheart good old boy network deal If he had a seat belt on, likely he would have survived but beat up. It's one event of overwhelming sadness in this community.

Go to the end of the Corvallis Gazette Times article online and download the PDF's from initial inquiries. It aint over til its over.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have seen the situation often. You jump in the truck and the BOSS says, BTW, the brakes don't work and you have to stall it to shut it off. So you run what's available and don't ask questions. Otherwise, you won't fit in AND won't have work..

 

[ruffdog]

I have seen the situation often. You jump in the truck and the BOSS says, BTW, the brakes don't work and you have to stall it to shut it off. So you run what's available and don't ask questions. Otherwise, you won't fit in AND won't have work..

I'm sure the family will understand your explanation of how it all works. :thumbdown:

 

[Industrial Toys]

Yeah, I know, the TRUTH often sucks. Not completely MY fault things are the way they are.

 

[dieselcrawler]

Sad to hear... my condolence to family and friends.

Really makes me appreciate my employer, they are quite the opposite, going to great (even excessive) lengths to focus on the safety of all of us employed there. Naturally, some people complain about it, but we are far more likely to go home alive than poor Pete Neuman, I wish they could understand that.

 

[nyone]

Sounds like the whole brush and log removal part of the job should have been contracted out. How many roads do they actually build in that town anymore? Prob not many.

 

[radios1]

the operator ignored the fact that the seat belt wouldn't fit him, so he went and used the machine anyway!. operator fatal error!.

 

[Oaktree]

Not completely MY fault things are the way they are.

Maybe time for a different field of employment. I have never been asked (let alone told) to do something unsafe by any employer.
Not to say I haven't "pushed it" a couple times, but in every case it was my own perogative.

 

[MossRoad]

Maybe time for a different field of employment. I have never been asked (let alone told) to do something unsafe by any employer.
Not to say I haven't "pushed it" a couple times, but in every case it was my own perogative.

Boy I have. Working around airplanes, and at a newspaper printing facility. When the boss says "Get in there and do it." my usual reply was "You show me how to do it first." If it still looked unsafe, my 2nd reply was "Nope." Never got fired or disciplined for refusing to do something unsafe, so at least they didn't push it.

 

[hslogger]

Benton fined in road worker’s death | Local | gazettetimes.com

It aint over until it's over. I wonder how many of you read the reports that were linked to the second newspaper article. The findings in detail, ARE in detail.
Death at Hells Canyon | Local | gazettetimes.com

 

[1010]

The tires don't look that bad for a skidder. The conditions don't look very wet or icy.
I see the county was fined for the operator not being trained to be on the equipment. That could mean several things.
That type terrain isn't something you take a chance on. Being unemployed is better than being 6 feet under every time.
If I felt the machine was faulty for the conditions it was operating in I'd walk away every time.
If I was questioned my reply would have been, Well you show me how it can be safely done, that seat is a one size fits all..
I've never worked for anybody that told me I had to do something I wasn't comfortable doing, even if others on equipment were doing it. It would be just take your time and watch the others and you'd get the hang of it.

Then theirs somebody that simply doesn't understand the danger (from experience) and paid for it with their life, and the boss simply underestimated the operators skill level.