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Serious and fatal collisions between mobile equipment and pedestrian workers in Quebec: A critical analysis of contributing factors and the Role of proximity detection devices in risk reduction.

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Title: Serious and fatal collisions between mobile equipment and pedestrian workers in Quebec: A critical analysis of contributing factors and the Role of proximity detection devices in risk reduction.
Authors: Burlet-Vienney, Damien1 (AUTHOR) damien.burletvienney@irsst.qc.ca, Gauthier, François2 (AUTHOR) francois.gauthier@uqtr.ca, Gauvin, Chantal1 (AUTHOR) chantal.gauvin@irsst.qc.ca, Jolly, Caroline1 (AUTHOR) caroline.jolly@irsst.qc.ca, Haghighi, Aida3 (AUTHOR) aida.haghighi@torontomu.ca, Sekkay, Firdaous4 (AUTHOR) firdaous.sekkay@polymtl.ca, Saidi, Alireza1 (AUTHOR) alireza.saidi@irsst.qc.ca, Jocelyn, Sabrina1 (AUTHOR) sabrina.jocelyn@irsst.qc.ca, Chinniah, Yuvin4 (AUTHOR) yuvin.chinniah@polymtl.ca
Source: Safety Science. Feb2026, Vol. 194, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Proximity detectors, Work-related injuries, Construction workers, Fault trees (Reliability engineering), Hazard mitigation, Construction equipment, Collisions (Physics)
Geographic Terms: Canada, Québec (Province)
Abstract: • Investigation reports were exhaustively compiled and qualitatively analyzed. • Contributing factors were structured using fault tree analysis. • Most collisions occurred while reversing and during the starting phase. • 88% of operators were unaware of the pedestrian just before the accident. • Practical effectiveness of proximity detection devices is discussed. Context. Mobile equipment (ME), such as loader, that runs over pedestrian workers (PWs) is still a major cause of fatal work accidents. Proximity detection devices (PDDs) are an avenue to mitigate these risks, yet there is a lack of comprehensive studies to inform their practical implementation. Aim. The aim is to provide a structured analysis of the factors contributing to ME-PW collisions and to evaluate the potential impact of integrating PDDs into the causality chain of these accidents. Methodology. An exhaustive database was created through analysis of investigation reports on fatal ME-PW collisions in Quebec, Canada, from 2013 to 2023 (n = 34). Contributing factors were structured using fault tree analysis (FTA). Results. ME-PW collisions account for 8 % of all available fatal accident reports. Two accident types stand out: dump trucks backing up to deliver earthwork (8/34) and hydraulic shovels used in earthwork operations (8/34). Reversing collisions were the most frequent (21/34), as were accidents occurring during the starting phase of the ME (21/34). Discussion. In 88 % of cases, the operator was unaware of the PW's presence just before the accident. This finding confirms the strong potential of PDD as an additional layer of risk reduction. The FTA provides a novel perspective on the potential benefits of PDDs, while also highlighting the challenges of their effective integration into real-world operations. For instance, (1) ensuring coverage of the actual danger zone according to the movement, (2) providing highly targeted warnings, and (3) accounting for subcontracting and environmental conditions that may affect PDD performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Safety Science is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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DbLabel: Engineering Source
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: Serious and fatal collisions between mobile equipment and pedestrian workers in Quebec: A critical analysis of contributing factors and the Role of proximity detection devices in risk reduction.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Burlet-Vienney%2C+Damien%22">Burlet-Vienney, Damien</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> damien.burletvienney@irsst.qc.ca</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gauthier%2C+François%22">Gauthier, François</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> francois.gauthier@uqtr.ca</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gauvin%2C+Chantal%22">Gauvin, Chantal</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> chantal.gauvin@irsst.qc.ca</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jolly%2C+Caroline%22">Jolly, Caroline</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> caroline.jolly@irsst.qc.ca</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Haghighi%2C+Aida%22">Haghighi, Aida</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> aida.haghighi@torontomu.ca</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sekkay%2C+Firdaous%22">Sekkay, Firdaous</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> firdaous.sekkay@polymtl.ca</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Saidi%2C+Alireza%22">Saidi, Alireza</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> alireza.saidi@irsst.qc.ca</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jocelyn%2C+Sabrina%22">Jocelyn, Sabrina</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> sabrina.jocelyn@irsst.qc.ca</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chinniah%2C+Yuvin%22">Chinniah, Yuvin</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> yuvin.chinniah@polymtl.ca</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Proximity+detectors%22">Proximity detectors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Work-related+injuries%22">Work-related injuries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Construction+workers%22">Construction workers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fault+trees+%28Reliability+engineering%29%22">Fault trees (Reliability engineering)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hazard+mitigation%22">Hazard mitigation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Construction+equipment%22">Construction equipment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Collisions+%28Physics%29%22">Collisions (Physics)</searchLink>
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  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Canada%22">Canada</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Québec+%28Province%29%22">Québec (Province)</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: • Investigation reports were exhaustively compiled and qualitatively analyzed. • Contributing factors were structured using fault tree analysis. • Most collisions occurred while reversing and during the starting phase. • 88% of operators were unaware of the pedestrian just before the accident. • Practical effectiveness of proximity detection devices is discussed. Context. Mobile equipment (ME), such as loader, that runs over pedestrian workers (PWs) is still a major cause of fatal work accidents. Proximity detection devices (PDDs) are an avenue to mitigate these risks, yet there is a lack of comprehensive studies to inform their practical implementation. Aim. The aim is to provide a structured analysis of the factors contributing to ME-PW collisions and to evaluate the potential impact of integrating PDDs into the causality chain of these accidents. Methodology. An exhaustive database was created through analysis of investigation reports on fatal ME-PW collisions in Quebec, Canada, from 2013 to 2023 (n = 34). Contributing factors were structured using fault tree analysis (FTA). Results. ME-PW collisions account for 8 % of all available fatal accident reports. Two accident types stand out: dump trucks backing up to deliver earthwork (8/34) and hydraulic shovels used in earthwork operations (8/34). Reversing collisions were the most frequent (21/34), as were accidents occurring during the starting phase of the ME (21/34). Discussion. In 88 % of cases, the operator was unaware of the PW's presence just before the accident. This finding confirms the strong potential of PDD as an additional layer of risk reduction. The FTA provides a novel perspective on the potential benefits of PDDs, while also highlighting the challenges of their effective integration into real-world operations. For instance, (1) ensuring coverage of the actual danger zone according to the movement, (2) providing highly targeted warnings, and (3) accounting for subcontracting and environmental conditions that may affect PDD performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Safety Science is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.ssci.2025.107038
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 1
        StartPage: N.PAG
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Proximity detectors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Work-related injuries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Construction workers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fault trees (Reliability engineering)
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      – SubjectFull: Hazard mitigation
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      – SubjectFull: Construction equipment
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      – SubjectFull: Collisions (Physics)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Canada
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Québec (Province)
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Serious and fatal collisions between mobile equipment and pedestrian workers in Quebec: A critical analysis of contributing factors and the Role of proximity detection devices in risk reduction.
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              Text: Feb2026
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              Y: 2026
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