The experimental reconstruction of a complicated case of work accident due to a scraper

Workplace safety is a global public health issue. Re-constructing an accident can prove extremely complicated, especially when the event occurs without direct witnesses or when the scene is altered. In these cases, it is essential to adopt proper investigation pro-tocols in order to ensure the correct reconstruction of the dynamics.

A man was found unconscious on the ground, having fallen from a height of approximately 2 meters, where there was a cabin in which a conveyor belt of raw materials for the production of cement ran. At the end of the path of this belt a scraper was found. An autopsy was carried out and the scraper present at the scene was examined and compared with the injuries on the victim. After the autopsy, the investigators returned to the scene and collected the traces found in the cabin. At the end of collecting the traces, the investigators simulated the dynamics of the event by turning on the conveyor belt and placing a scraper of the same dimensions and characteristics as the one found at the scene inside the cabin.

The autopsy showed a maxillofacial trauma with multiple bruises on the face and a serious fracture of the epistropheus tooth. This trauma was therefore incompatible with a simple fall from 2 meters. The investigators created an experimental model that demonstrated a very high energy rebound of the tape when placed in contact with the scraper. This reconstruction made it possible to carry out a single report with the data collected by the medical examiner and the investigators, which was effective and exhaustive, allowing the Authority to be provided with the evidence to continue the investigations about the responsibilities of the worker and the employer.