Struck-By Incident Has Raised Safety Concerns In South Carolina

Equipment operation needs full-time safety compliance on the worksites. Not only are the equipment operators at risk, but the people around the equipment may also get seriously injured. 

Struck-by is a kind of accident that can be fatal and needs strict vigilance. One such incident happened in South Carolina in the middle of June 2025. A 58-year-old John Allen Stowers was working in a culvert under an I-26 overpass near North Charleston when a skid-steer loader backing up hit him.

It was an extreme misfortune that a fatality was reported. The death of Ray Carter Straight, 43, of Princeton, West Virginia, at a road repaving project close to North Augusta occurred less than a week later on June 22. 

These tragic deaths not only claimed two lives but also left heartbroken families in their wake. They also serve as a reminder that heavy machinery on the job site necessitates ongoing attention to detail.

Why is it necessary to know the construction-related risks?

According to safety terminology, these collisions are known as struck-by incidents, in which a worker is hit or crushed by a moving object or piece of machinery. A struck-by injury is one that is caused by forcible contact or impact between the injured person and an object or piece of equipment, according to OSHA regulation. 

Impact is a common element among struck-by incidents in construction, which can take many different forms, such as flying debris, falling loads, swinging booms, or rolling vehicles. According to statistics, struck-by incidents are a leading cause of death at workplaces. 

About two-thirds of all construction deaths are caused by the four most deadly construction hazards, also known as the “Focus Four,” according to industry data. In that group, struck-by accidents account for about 17% of fatalities. 

According to the Center for Construction Research (CPWR) and NIOSH, struck-by incidents resulted in approximately 150 worker fatalities and 14,000 injuries in the construction industry in the United States in 2020, with direct costs exceeding $1.4 billion. 

Employees were struck or run over by cars or machinery in almost half of those fatal struck-by incidents. 

In fact, as NIOSH notes, workers riding on vehicles may fall off and get backed over—exactly what occurred in the North Augusta case. On average, construction sites still claim the lives of dozens of workers every year due to strikes or collisions.

These alarming statistics highlight how common struck-by danger is on crowded sites. Even seasoned crews may encounter hidden hazards due to blind spots, congested work areas, and the size of contemporary earthmoving machinery. 

Equipment movement increases the risk, particularly when it is in reverse. Workers may not hear backup alarms over site noise, drivers frequently cannot see workers behind them, and spotters on one vehicle may fail to notice other machines approaching from a different angle, according to OSHA’s backover safety bulletin. 

To put it briefly, one small mistake, such as an operator assuming the path is clear or a worker entering a blind zone, can be lethal. Similar to many previous tragedies, both of the recent deaths in South Carolina happened during reversing operations.

What are the best practices to avoid such accidents?

Regulations and industry best practices emphasize extreme caution to mitigate these risks. Clear requirements are outlined in federal safety regulations for construction equipment. For instance, when reversing, OSHA mandates that any earthmoving machinery with a blocked rear view must have a spotter or an audible backup alarm. 

This means that in practice, operators must either make sure a colleague can guide them or sound a distinguishable alarm before backing up. Unauthorized personnel are prohibited from riding on powered industrial trucks, according to another important rule: osha.gov. 

OSHA specifically warns that riding on machines can result in falls and backovers, which is why this regulation is in place: workers who are not inside the protective cab are at risk of falling and being crushed. 

To put it another way, it is strictly forbidden to allow someone to climb onto a loader bucket, grapple, or machine ladder, regardless of how commonplace it may appear.

Safe mounting and dismounting practices must also be followed by operators and employers. When climbing on or off equipment, skid-steers and loaders are instructed to maintain three points of contact: both hands and one foot, or both feet and one hand.

Before leaving, the machine should be on level ground, the attachment lowered, the engine off, and the key taken out. A worker runs the risk of getting trapped beneath the lift arms or tracks if these procedures are not followed. 

In short, each entry and exit must be intentional: use the appropriate handholds and steps, park the machine safely, and shut it down.

The industry has created numerous best practices to prevent workers from being struck by heavy machinery in addition to these regulations. 

Using trained spotters—a committed colleague who directs the operator in low visibility—is one of the most crucial. In order to check blind zones, OSHA advises drivers to use spotters and activate video backup cameras or sensors. 

Technologies that warn drivers when someone is too close, such as RFID-tag systems and radar/sonar proximity warnings, are becoming more and more common in modern work zones. 

In order to separate foot traffic from machinery, businesses usually develop internal traffic control strategies. For instance, they may designate safe walkways for crews and specific one-way paths for vehicles. 

Clear signage and highly visible apparel are also important. When the equipment is operating, workers should always wear hard hats and bright reflective vests and remain in designated safe areas. 

Additionally, training is essential: crews should walk around equipment to understand blind spots and regularly practice site traffic plans in toolbox talks. In order to allow new hires to observe the blind spots firsthand, OSHA actually recommends placing them in the operator’s seat (while the machine is parked).

What type of training can help?

In addition to human awareness, technology is assisting in the decrease of struck-by fatalities. Obstacles (including people) that an operator might overlook can be detected by new machine-mounted cameras, 360° sensor systems, and automated braking or warning systems. 

Digital barriers and GPS monitoring can even keep people out of dangerous areas. Radar is used by certain smart systems to scan the area around a piece of equipment and, if a person is detected, sound an alarm or stop the car. 

In the meantime, “driver warning” and “worker proximity” platforms are becoming more widely accessible; they serve as a supplement to standard safety features like mirrors and horns. Although not mandated by law, these tools provide an additional line of defense in crowded or noisy settings.

Lastly, a safety mindset and ongoing training are incomparable. Regular stand-downs and meetings are conducted by seasoned crews to discuss lessons learned, examine near-misses, and review struck-by scenarios. 

OSHA emphasizes that with appropriate planning, communication, and utilization of all available safeguards, struck-by incidents can be avoided. Operators and workers in the vicinity must mentally pause each time a machine moves to make sure the path is clear and that no bystanders are present.

What should be the role of site managers and equipment operators?

All site managers and equipment operators are reminded by the recent tragedies in South Carolina that heavy machinery can be cruel. 

No shortcut or deadline is worth a human life. Employers can drastically lower the likelihood of a struck-by disaster by strictly enforcing the rules, which include prohibiting riding on machinery at all times, requiring audible backup alarms, employing spotters and technology, and maintaining safe zones.

As the industry states, safety is the result of awareness plus following protocols. We can only guarantee that every employee returns home safely at the end of the day by maintaining a culture of safety and unwavering vigilance.

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