HEISKELL, Tenn. — Hunley Construction LLC, a Heiskell company, will need to pay $4,000 after a worker died in October 2023 while operating a compactor, according to the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
It said the worker was using a Caterpillar CP-433E Compactor when it tipped on its left side. TOSHA said the worker was not wearing a seatbelt and got several head injuries after hitting the compactor's metal canopy. According to an investigation summary, the worker's left arm was also pinned under the equipment's canopy.
TOSHA said the worker was helping build Mockingbird Meadows, a new sub-division in Knoxville. Hunley Construction was hired to bring in new dirt and level the dirt at homesites, and the worker was the only one operating the compactor at the time of the incident. Two other employees were operating skid steers, and one quickly responded after noticing the compactor was on its side.
The worker died on Oct. 3, 2023, at around 1:23 p.m.