DATE: 

January 11, 2022

______________________

TIME: 

2:20 p.m. 

______________________

VICTIM:

57-year-old male 

Caucasian delivery driver 

______________________

INDUSTRY/NAICS CODE:

Brick, Stone, and Related 

Construction Material 

Merchant 

Wholesalers/423320 

EMPLOYER: 

Natural stone supplier

SAFETY & TRAIING:

Employer provided limited 

worker safety training

SCENE: 

Countertop merchant 

parking lot

LOCATION:

Kentucky

EVENT TYPE:

FOR INCIDENT HIGHLIGHTS 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REPORT#: 22KY00601 REPORT DATE: 08/01/2022 

Delivery Driver Crushed by Granite Slab—

Kentucky 

SUMMARY 

A 57-year-old delivery driver was killed when he was struck by a slab 

of granite. At the time of the incident, the driver was assisting the 

kitchen counter merchant in the off-loading slabs of granite from his

flatbed trailer. During the off-loading process an unsecured slab 

tipped over and struck the delivery driver. It fell onto him and forced 

him to strike the ground. He received fatal injuries as a result of the 

incident. 

READ THE FULL REPORT> (p.3)

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS 

Key contributing factors identified in this investigation include:

• Lack of adequate worker safety practices 

• Failure of utilizing adequate safety features while using 

equipment. 

• Lack of a comprehensive worker safety program and training 

LEARN MORE> (p.9)

RECOMMENDATIONS 

Kentucky investigators concluded that, to help prevent similar 

occurrences, employers should: 

• Use stone slab storage racks with individual compartments for 

storage. 

• Identify fall shadow zones and restrict employees from placing 

themselves in the shadow zones. 

• Provide written worker safety programs and training for 

employees. 

LEARN MORE> (p.9) 
Page 2

Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program

This case report was developed to draw the attention of employers and employees to a serious safety hazard and is based on 

preliminary data only. This publication does not represent final determinations regarding the nature of the incident, cause of the injury, 

or fault of employer, employee, or any party involved. 

This Case report was developed by the Kentucky Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program. Kentucky FACE is a 

NIOSH-funded occupational fatality surveillance program with the goal of preventing fatal work injuries by studying the worker, the 

work environment, and the role of management, engineering, and behavioral changes in preventing future injuries. The FACE program 

is located in the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center (KIPRC). KIPRC is a bona fide agent for the Kentucky Department for 

Public Health. 

Email | Twitter | Facebook| Website
REPORT#: 22KY00601 Page 3

INTRODUCTION 

On Tuesday, January 11, 2022, a 57-year-old delivery driver was killed when he was struck by a slab of granite. The driver 

was employed by a granite wholesaler and was in the process of delivering a load of granite slabs to a merchant’s place of 

business. The delivery process required that the slabs be off-loaded from the driver’s flatbed trailer using the merchant’s 

forklift. The delivery driver was positioned on the bed of the trailer to assist in the off-loading of slabs. During the offloading process, an unsecured slab tipped and struck the delivery driver. The driver was knocked off the trailer to the 

ground and crushed beneath the slab. He died of his injuries. 

EMPLOYER 

The granite wholesaler had 1 employee on-site the day of the incident. 

WRITTEN SAFETY PROGRAMS and TRAINING 

At the time of the incident, the granite wholesaler did not have a written worker safety program or training regarding 

moving and lifting of granite slabs, or hazard control measures. 

WORKER INFORMATION 

The 57-year-old male Caucasian delivery driver was married with one daughter. He had worked as a delivery driver for 

the granite wholesaler for just over five years. His work duties for the granite wholesaler included delivery of stone 

products to customers, loading delivery trucks using a forklift, and warehousing. At time of the incident, the delivery 

driver was not wearing personal protective equipment. 

INCIDENT SCENE 

The merchant’s facility consisted of a retail showroom, offices, indoor workshop/production area, outdoor storage area, 

and parking lot. The incident occurred in the merchant’s parking lot (Photo 1 and Photo 2). The parking lot provided a

limited but sufficient amount of clearance for trucks to park for offloading. Although the parking lot was topped with 

asphalt, it was unevenly graded in some areas. Terrain is not considered to have been a factor in the incident. 

Photo 1. Parking Lot (Property of KYFACE Program) 
REPORT#: 22KY00601 Page 4

Photo 2. Parking Lot (Google Earth) 

EQUIPMENT 

The granite countertop wholesaler had secured granite slabs for transport on the flatbed trailer using a metal “A-frame” 

rack, which held multiple slabs in a near-vertical orientation. Stone slabs were off-loaded by the merchant’s employees 

using a forklift equipped with a boom attachment (Photo 3). 

Photo 3. Forklift with Boom Attachment (Property of KYFACE Program) 

The boom attachment was equipped with a device designed to clamp onto an individual slab to allow it to be lifted, 

moved, and lowered. The device, referred to as a “slab clamp”, was an Abaco Little Giant Lifter, Model AFG50, 

manufactured by Abaco Machines (Photo 4).
REPORT#: 22KY00601 Page 5

Photo 4. Abaco Little Giant Lifter, Model AFG50 (Property of KYFACE Program) 

WEATHER 

The weather at 1:54 pm on the day of the incident was 29 degrees Fahrenheit, 49% humidity, 10 mph average 

southwesterly wind speed, 0 mph wind gust speed, with 0 inches of precipitation [Weather Underground 2022]. The 

weather is not believed to have been a factor in this incident.

INVESTIGATION 

Prior to the incident, the delivery driver had driven his flatbed trailer into the merchant’s parking lot to deliver the cargo 

of granite slabs. The incident was recorded by a video camera mounted on the merchant’s building and reviewed by the 

KYFACE investigator. 

Two of the merchant’s employees assisted the delivery driver in offloading the granite from the flatbed trailer. One 

employee operated the forklift used to move slabs, while the other employee served as a spotter. The delivery driver 

climbed onto the flatbed to remove straps used to secure the slabs during transportation. He then readied each slab for 

rigging and offloading, starting with the outermost slab on the A-frame rack. The process to offload the slabs was such 

that only one slab was moved at a time using the slab clamp device attached to the forklift’s boom. 

The incident occurred while the delivery driver was attaching the slab clamp device to a slab in the flatbed area of the 

trailer. The delivery driver separated the first slab from the others that were stacked on an A-frame to provide the 

necessary room to attach the slab clamp device over the slab. The slab clamp device was positioned in the center of the

slab prior to securing so that the slab can be lifted from its center of balance, similar to that illustrated in Photo 5. 

The forklift operator positioned the boom and slab clamp device above the approximate center of the slab, while the 

delivery driver separated the slab from the other slabs on the rack. Once the slab clamp device was positioned onto the 

slab, the delivery driver released the lifting device/slab clamp’s locking latch to allow it to lock the slab, a process similar

to that designated by the arrow in Photo 5. 
REPORT#: 22KY00601 Page 6

Photo 5. Positioning Lifting Device [Natural Stone Institute] 

During the rigging process, a miscommunication occurred between the delivery driver and forklift operator. This caused

the forklift operator to drive the forklift away from the flatbed before the slab clamp device had been secured to the slab; 

and before the driver was positioned outside of the fall shadow of the slab. This resulted in the slab being pulled forward 

past its tipping point towards the forklift. The delivery driver, who was standing on the flatbed truck and in the fall shadow 

of the slab, was struck by the slab as it fell off the flatbed. He was crushed beneath the slab upon contact with the ground

at approximately 1:31 pm Eastern time. Emergency medical services were called for the driver by an employee of the 

merchant. At approximately 2:20 pm, the driver died from his injuries. 

On January 12, 2022, the Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health Program (KYOSHA) notified the Kentucky Fatality 

Assessment and Control Evaluation Program (KYFACE) of the incident. KYFACE launched an investigation of the fatality by 

visiting the incident site, interviewing involved parties, examining video of the incident, assessing equipment involved, and

reviewing the circumstances of the incident. Also, information relating to the incident, video and photographs, and 

witness statements taken by KYOSHA were reviewed and the investigating KYOSH compliance officer was interviewed.

CAUSE OF DEATH 

According to the Coroner’s report, the cause of death was injury by crushing. 

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS 

Occupational injuries and fatalities are often the result of one or more contributing factors or key events in a larger 

sequence of events that ultimately result in the injury or fatality. Kentucky investigators identified the following hazards as 

key contributing factors in this incident:

• Lack of adequate work safety practices 

• Failure of utilizing adequate safety features while using equipment. 

• Lack of comprehensive worker safety program and training 

RECOMMENDATIONS/DISCUSSION 

Recommendation #1: Employers should use stone slab storage racks engineered with individual compartments to support 

stone slabs. 

Employers should use engineered, heavy-duty stone slab storage racks with fixed support pins that form individual 

compartments, as shown in Images 1 and 2. Various designs of slab racks are available, such as the W-Frame rack below, 

which is essentially an A-Frame rack with individual compartments for each stone slab. 
REPORT#: 22KY00601 Page 7

Slab racks should be used for warehouse storage and for transport on flatbed and covered trailers. These types of racks 

can provide a positive means for preventing stone slabs from inadvertently falling onto employees during handling, which 

could result in serious crushing injuries and death. 

Slab racks must be used according to the manufacturer's specifications regarding their safe carrying capacity. Overloading 

can deform the rack’s components, reducing stability which could result in failure of the slab rack to keep slabs secure. 

Slab racks should be inspected prior to loading to look for: cracked welds, cracked or deformed structural members, other 

signs of damage or deterioration that could affect the structural integrity. 

 

Image 1: W-Frame [FACE #96-NJ-080-01] 

 

Image 2: Slab Rack [FACE #96-NJ-080-01] 

Recommendation #2: 

Employers should identify slab fall shadow zones and restrict employees from placing themselves in the zones whenever a 

slab can fall. 

Slabs can weigh in excess of 1,000 pounds [Natural Stone Institute, pg. 7] and they are typically stored on slab racks such 

that they rest on their narrow long edge. A slab has the potential to fall when not actively secured from tipping beyond its

absolute vertical alignment. A slab can also fall while being lifted and moved; if the rigging fails, the load becomes 

insecure, or the slab breaks. Locations where individuals could be struck, or crushed, are referred to as the fall shadow, as

illustrated in Figure 1. The Natural Stone Institute has warned in its guidance, that employees must “Stay out of the 

shadow to reduce your risk of being crushed,” [2021, pg. 8]. 
REPORT#: 22KY00601 Page 8

Figure 1: Fall Shadow 

When moving slabs to a near vertical position for rigging, employees should be positioned outside of the fall shadow. 

When preparing a slab for moving, a wedge tool is often used to separate a single slab from others so that a clamp lifter 

can be attached, Photo 6 illustrates an A-frame rack with wedge used to separate slabs enough to attach a clamp.

Employees should be located outside the fall shadow when the wedge is inserted and for the remainder of the time the 

slab is being moved. Photo 7 depicts the location of the fall shadow and the correct position of the employee relative to 

slabs stored in a rack.

Photo 6: Positioning Relative to Rack [Wehausa.com] 
REPORT#: 22KY00601 Page 9

Photo 7: Positioning Relative to Rack [OSHA 2008] 

Safe work practices should be utilized which allow employees to remain outside the slab shadow. If using a slab clamp

device, the device should be positioned at a slab’s center using a push/pull pole device which is long enough to allow the

employee to remain out of the fall shadow during rigging. When using slab clamp devices equipped with a manual 

unlocking latch as shown in Photo 8. Employees should remain out of the slab fall shadow by releasing the latch using a 

push/pull pole device. Alternative methods which would allow employees to remain outside the fall shadow include using

more advanced lifting device equipment. These include the use of a clamp which has an automatic locking/unlocking

mechanism, and clamp with an electronic remote-control latch.

Photo 8. Unlocking of Latch of Lifting Device [ABACO Machines] 

Recommendation #3: Employers should provide written safety programs and training for their employees. 

Employers should develop written safety programs to protect employees from the hazards associated with handling stone

slabs. Program information and training should be provided in the primary language spoken by employees. These 

programs should include specific information regarding:

• The potential hazards faced by employees. This should include the potential for being struck and crushed by

falling slabs, which could result in fatal injuries.

• The means by which employees can control their exposure to stone slab hazards. This should include a universal

requirement for employees to remain outside of the slab fall shadow at all times, with an emphasis on operations

Direction of Push

Fall 

Shadow

Employee

Position
REPORT#: 22KY00601 Page 10

when slabs are being handled outside of compartmentalized slab racks. This should also include details on the use 

of compartmentalized slab racks, and operation of equipment used to move stone slabs (i.e., forklifts and 

overhead lifts). 

• Training for employees regarding specific hazards and controls and the program overall. This should include a 

means to ensure that training was effective and that employees are competent to perform stone slab work safely, 

prior to being assigned such work. Also, provisions should be made for retraining employees should the need 

become apparent. 

• Provide training regarding effective communication between equipment operators and persons assisting in the 

movement of stone slabs. 

• Information on how employees can report concerns regarding stone slab hazards to their employers without fear 

of reprisal. 

• The mechanism by which the employer will periodically review the program and address any deficiencies found.

 

DISCLAIMER 

Mention of any company or product does not constitute endorsement by KYFACE and the National Institute for 

Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). In addition, citations to websites external to KYFACE and NIOSH do not 

constitute endorsement of the sponsoring organizations or their programs or products by KYFACE and NIOSH. 

Furthermore, KYFACE and NIOSH are not responsible for the content of these websites. All web addresses referenced in 

this document were accessible as of the publication date.

REFERENCES 

Abaco Machines USA [n.d.]. Operational Manual Abaco Little Giant Lifter (ALG). www.abacomachine.com

Google Earth [2019]. https://earth.google.com/web/@38.03818077,-84.47494469,304.13577921a,144.31020016d,35y,-

144.39440793h,0t,0r

Kentucky Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Program [2015]. Granite Installation Company Owner Struck by 

Falling Granite Slab Incident Number 15KY020. Lexington, KY: Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center.

National Stone Institute [2021]. “Natural Stone Institute Technical Module - Safety In The Stone Business.” Oberlin, OH. 

https://www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/safety/ 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration [2005]. Hazards Associated with Transporting Granite and Marble Slabs

SHIB 09-08-2005. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration [2008]. Hazards of Transporting, Unloading, Storing and Handling Granite, 

Marble and Stone Slabs SHIB 08-12-2008. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration. 

Massachusetts State FACE Program [2006]. Worker Killed When Crushed by Multiple Granite Slabs Massachusetts Case 

Report: 05-MA-059 Boston, MA: Executive Office of Health and Human Services. 
REPORT#: 22KY00601 Page 11

New Jersey Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Project [1997]. Stone Worker Crushed To Death Under Toppled 

Granite Slabs Trenton, NJ: New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. 

Weather Underground [2022]. Weather history for KLEX. Atlanta, GA: The Weather Channel Interactive, Inc.

Wehausa.com [n.d.]. https://www.wehausa.com/v/vspfiles/photos/122817-5.jpg

INVESTIGATOR INFORMATION 

This investigation was conducted by Dr. David Stumbo, OHST, CSP. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMEMENT 

The KYFACE Program would like to acknowledge the assistance of KYOSHA, Abaco Machines, and The Natural Stone 

Institute in the development of this report.