US Airways Employee Killed at Sky Harbor Airport

[LD3]

So which is it a ramper or maintenance?

Looks like it was maintenance and not ramp.

Does it really matter? A life was lost!!

 

[robbedagain]

May he RIP and My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his entire family. as someone else said it best Go With God Mr D!

 

[SparrowHawk]

This was not a ramp agent, he was a belt mechanic. They keep US's baggage circulatory system in PHX up and running and have always done a very good job of it; the amount of conveyor and catwalking in, under, and through Terminal 4 is mind-boggling.

Sorry for the mistake. In my Customer Brain if you work below the wing you're ramp. Apparently quite a few airports have T-4 like systems in place. When I did the PHL tour they weren't having us anywhere near the bag room or conveyors for whatever reason.

This tragedy points out that no matter how experienced one is, safety is not a sometime thing. I haven't run a Printing Press for 20 years and to this very day I wear no jewelry, seldom long sleeve shirts and am always aware of what's moving and what's not. Sadly you only have to wrong or careless ONE time to sustain a life threatening/ending injury.

 

[700UW]

Its called getting the story straight and the facts correct.

 

[SparrowHawk]

Its called getting the story straight and the facts correct.

I'm sure his widow and family will be comforted

 

[CactUS4Ever]

God Bless You Mr. Demarco. You lost your life by reminding US how dangerous our job is. God Bless your family.

 

[SparrowHawk]

God Bless You Mr. Demarco. You lost your life by reminding US how dangerous our job is. God Bless your family.

Agreed! There but for the grace of God go any one of us, airline employee or otherwise.

 

[Jester]

... I remember saying to myself "This place is dangerous" as I watched the ballet that is unloading a plane take place. New found respect? By the ton!!

I haven't run a Printing Press for 20 years and to this very day I wear no jewelry, seldom long sleeve shirts and am always aware of what's moving and what's not. Sadly you only have to wrong or careless ONE time to sustain a life threatening/ending injury.

Sparrow,

You hit it exactly right... one learns where the danger zones are located, and usually, it is anything moving (or could move), and whenever possible avoid those areas or be on particular guard while being in those areas where the accidents are more likely to occur. Unfortuately, there are other risks, as well.. electrical, falls, biohazards, chemical hazards, but most of the time, it is an object coming into contact with the person with force and energy.

Years ago in PHX, FSAs have nearly been killed by even slow moving objects, but with a great deal of weight. One guy was run over by a jet bridge that rolled-up behind him... another guy stepped behind the nose gear of a B757 during push-back from the gate. I think both suffered severe leg injuries with the later one actually losing a leg when the bones were crushed beyond repair. After disconnecting a tow bar after a push-back, while waiting for instructions from the push tug driver, I won't stand in front of the nose gear to avoid it from rolling-up behind me. I have seen it happen when the brakes were released, so I stand just to the side of the nose gear, and a few times saw it roll past me.

Either don't pay attention or make a mental mistake, and the consequences could be deadly. Let us hope that the tragic death of one of our fellow co-workers reminds us to be particularly careful while working around heavy equipment.

So Concurs Jester.

 

[strangiatotheme]

...another guy stepped behind the nose gear of a B757 during push-back from the gate.

There were actually two people who have been run over by 757s in PHX. The first was in 1989 when a ramper tripped and was run over by the nose gear before the tug could stop; the second was in 1995 when a new-hire inadvertently walked behind the nose gear and was also run over. Both were headset operators and after the second incident HP changed their push-back procedures to eliminate that position.

I recall that the guy who was run over by the jetway actually came in to speak with our training class about being aware of your surroundings while on the ramp. A quick look at his mangled leg really drove the point across.

 

[wings396]

There were actually two people who have been run over by 757s in PHX. The first was in 1989 when a ramper tripped and was run over by the nose gear before the tug could stop; the second was in 1995 when a new-hire inadvertently walked behind the nose gear and was also run over. Both were headset operators and after the second incident HP changed their push-back procedures to eliminate that position.

I recall that the guy who was run over by the jetway actually came in to speak with our training class about being aware of your surroundings while on the ramp. A quick look at his mangled leg really drove the point across.

I can only wonder why anyone would be that close to the nose gear while the A/C was in motion, especially behind it. Assuming that he was a wing walker, adds even more question to his location. I have had a few guys step in front of the nose after pushback was complete, and I gave them hell for not looking at me for confirmation of the brakes being set. I have even had a few boneheads pull the steering lockout pin BEFORE disconnecting the towbar. The worst incident that comes to mind is the time that I had a 727 release his brakes and start to taxi before I got the pushaback away from the A/C. He ran up the towbar a bit, and needless to say, I jumped off the pushback to get away. The signal man was in place, and the captain had his sights set elsewhere. He admitted that it was his fault, but it was a bad situation either way.

 

[Jester]

I can only wonder why anyone would be that close to the nose gear while the A/C was in motion, especially behind it. Assuming that he was a wing walker, adds even more question to his location.

Out west many years ago, we had an unusual arrangement where the push tug operator was not in communication with the flight deck, but rather the team lead would walk with the aircraft and push tug would be in communication with the flight deck. I always thought it was a screwy situation as the guy in charge of the push had to communicate with the team lead to the flight deck under less than ideal environment for verbal communications.

Well, the story goes that during the push the team lead noticed that someone failed to close and secure either the forward lav panel or the GPS panel on a B757, and in a brain fart moment stepped behind the nose gear to reach-up and close the panel. The push tug driver unaware of the team lead's intentions was not able to brake in time, thus crushing the leg of the team lead who was pinned under the tires. As I understand it, the team lead was in such pain that the aircraft could not be moved and the mechanics had to use a jack to lift the forward section of the aircraft to pull the team lead out from under the nose gear. The team lead lost his leg, and as I understand it, he is now an attorney in Arizona.

After that incident, I believe America West changed the policy to have the push tug operator the use the headset for communication with the flight deck during the push, and to keep people away from the nose gear during the push back.

So Recounts Jester.

 

[strangiatotheme]

Out west many years ago, we had an unusual arrangement where the push tug operator was not in communication with the flight deck, but rather the team lead would walk with the aircraft and push tug would be in communication...

It's unusual among U.S. airlines these days, but having a headset walker is more common among foreign airlines who require a tech ops person to communicate with the flight deck. Personally, I think it's unnecessarily risky...

 

[wings396]

Now that you mentioned it, I have seen that done in the past by another carrier......

 

[SparrowHawk]

If there is such a thing as a positive take away from the death or serious injury of a co-worker it is that everyone becomes a bit more safety conscious.

when I started in the Printing Trades my mentor told me this when it comes to safety and it stuck. I think it applies here. He said, "Bob, You only have to be wrong ONE TIME and there goes a finger"

You only have to take an unwarranted risk once and POOF you're off to get a set of wings and a harp or horns and a pitchfork. Heaven and Hell have no Seniority list. They are equal Opportunity reapers.

So with the above in mind perhaps the best way to honor your late colleague is to work safe! All day, Every Day. Trust me US Airways is not worth dieing over.

 

[robbedagain]

i remember recently when a DL employee was killed around the nose wheel area ...DTW i think it was