Air Force: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Aug 18, 2019 (fatal): Employee is ejected from utility vehicle and killed

At 11:00 or 11:30 a.m. on August 18, 2019, an employee was working for the Unites States Air Force. He was operating a utility vehicle or all-terrain vehicle (ATV) along a designated golf course pathway. He was using the ATV to move throughout the golf course as he marshaled a "best ball" golf tournament. The ATV was Polaris Ranger 6 x 6 utility vehicle, with Model Number 204562 and Serial Number 4XARF68A694737528. The pathway surface was approximately three meters (ten feet) wide. It was essentially level, sloping three degrees to the left in the direction of travel. It was paved with a smooth asphalt finish. Weather conditions were sunny and clear, with strong winds and strong gusts predominantly out of a north to northeast direction. The employee was traveling in a south to southeast direction from the clubhouse area, via the eastern edge of the driving range parking lot to the approach pathway. He was traveling from the clubhouse area to the tenth hole of the course. Along the way, he approached gate 10. It was made of 50-millimeter (2-inch) steel tubing. The gate had been opened at 4:00 a.m. that morning. At some point during the morning, the gate had become free from its bolt and chain assembly. It could swing freely across the pathway. At approximately 11:30 a.m. the vehicle struck the gate. The employee was ejected from the ATV to the left side of the pathway, approximately 4.3 meters (14 feet) from the left hand gate post. He was not wearing a seat belt. This area is made up of large boulders and vegetation that includes grass and some small shrubs. The employee was found unresponsive by a coworker. The employee was found facing upward, with his feet oriented in a southwest direction. Life saving measures were attempted and emergency response was summoned. The employee had sustained severe trauma to his lower body cavity. He was killed.