A hooktender was moving an excavator to a new location, with the boom raised. As he approached a tall sapling, he leaned out the boom side window, from which the glass had been removed. He inadvertently activated the control lever that triggers the boom to drop down. The worker's head was crushed between the cab and the main lift cylinder.

Safe work practices:

• Keep all safeguards on equipment in place. Never remove the side window of an excavator, because it protects the operator from a shear hazard.
• Wear a seat belt when operating an excavator.
• Ensure that new workers receive adequate instruction in the safe performance of their tasks, including the following:
  - Hazard recognition
  - Equipment inspection
  - Use of seat belts
  - Who the worker should report hazards to