Worker killed while loading excavator

An investigation is underway after a Northern Territory worker died at a plant hire business in Tivendale on Monday, 29 April.

According to NT WorkSafe, 30-year-old Dwayne Beaumont was loading an excavator onto a float (flatbed trailer) at the time of the incident.

The excavator was fitted with a large excavator bucket, which contained two smaller buckets and a ripper. Beaumont was standing on the float in front of the excavator when one of the smaller buckets dislodged and fatally struck him.

Beaumont and the excavator operator are not employees of the plant hire company.

NT WorkSafe said the transport of excavator attachments in large buckets appears to be common practice; these attachments should be secured to prevent dislodgement.

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