OSHA issues no citations in fatal DeSoto landfill accident

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has decided to issue no citations regarding a fatal rollover accident that occurred at the DeSoto Parish landfill in Mansfield, Louisiana.

As previously reported by Waste Today, the accident happened March 22 when the driver of a Francis Drilling Fluids (FDF) truck pulled into one of the waste containment cells at the landfill to unload. As the driver raised the bed to release his load, the truck rolled over onto a Live Oak Environmental truck that was sitting next to it waiting to discharge its load.

The Live Oak driver, Anthony Ray Smith, 57, died at the scene. A second occupant of the truck received minor injuries. Smith had been a driver for Bossier City, Louisiana-based Live Oak Environmental for three years.

According to an OSHA report on the incident, the FDF driver lifted the trailer to roughly its peak of 23 feet to unload soil material when it became unstable and began to tip over. The end of the dump truck trailer then fell onto the driver’s side of the cab of the nearby truck. The two trucks were about 30 feet apart.

The OSHA inspector says in closing conference notes that he did not observe any violations and “no citations will be issued per my inspection.”

As reported by local news station KTBS, safety issues at the landfill were the topic of discussion at a DeSoto Police Jury meeting in October. Police Juror Thomas Jones mentioned the fatal accident and other non-fatal turnovers—one of which happened about two weeks later—at the landfill saying, “We need to get them on solid footing. … We can’t continue to let that happen."

Solid Waste Committee Chairman Greg Baker says the spring rainfall contributed to the problems, but work was underway to make improvements. Equipment has since been purchased to measure compaction where trucks are off-loading.

In addition, mats have been placed for a more solid foundation for the tractor-trailers. The off-loading spot is designated and will only be relocated when the landfill elevation goes up.

The landfill has also designated a supervisor to be stationed at the top of the hill to keep a closer eye on all incoming trucks. The supervisor will have the authority to stop a truck from dumping its load if they are not satisfied with the area where they are working.