“ Tid Sao ” Story

Tid Sao was crushed by a car at the service station and left his family forever on 10 October 2003.

Detail of Incident

Day, Date : 10 Oct 2003

Time : 16.45 Hr.

Location : Phouvao-Retail Station (DODO), Luang Phrabang, Laos

Incident Description

The accident occurred on Friday, October 10, 2003 at about 16.45Hr. while

a carwash worker driving a customer Mitsubishi 4W-Automatic V6 onto a

wash ramp and another worker (Tid Sao)(Tid Sao) was guiding the driver into a

correct position. When the car stopped at the correct position, the driver

parked the car and while he was shifting the gear lever, the car suddenly

moved forward over wash ramp stoppers and crushed Tid Sao against a

concrete wall behind him. The driver tried to reverse the vehicle but did not

succeed. It took about 10 minutes to release the victim between the wall and

the car. At that particular time, he was already dead.

Contributions to this accident

• Driver had no license, he was not properly trained to drive the automatic transmission.

• The car idle speed was at 1400 rpm., this high rpm caused the car to heavily creep when the brake pedal was released or not firmly pressed.

• When the car crept, driver might try to apply brakes but he pressed the wrong pedal. (This is the conjecture since we did not get enough information from driver.)

• The stoppers design was not adequate to stop 4 wheels drive vehicles or other vehicles larger than passenger cars.

• There was no proper procedure and training for the car wash business.

Car wash Ramp Vehicle moved over the stoppers

Position of vehicle after the accident

20 cm. High Stoppers

Vehicle idle speed at 1400 rpm

Some Pictures of the Accident

Main learning points from this incident

• Working staff must not position themselves in front or behind a moving vehicle while guiding the driver to mobilise the vehicle.

• Only staff with valid driving license can mobilise vehicles within Shell site.

• Operational procedures must be available at site and strictly followed by Retail operators for all business activities.

• The need for Retail operators to take up liability insurance to cover operational damages and losses.

Personal Detail

Name : Tid Sao (Male)Age : 27 yearsAddress : Luang Phrabang, LaosCivil Status : Married with 2 childrenOccupation : Car wash workerInjury Sustained : Crushed at the chest by

4 wheel vehicle- Fatal

His Family

4 years 5 months

6 relatives -Wife’s sisters

and their children

1- Tid Sao’s brother

2 daughters

Parent in law

+

+

Their Home

Tid Sao and 12 family members live in this makeshift house,with very limited facilities.

Family Detail

• Tid Sao was the family breadwinner.

• He supported the whole family of 13 people.

• His income was from the service station and teaching students in the evening.

• The total income was about USD 100 per month.

• He was a good husband and dedicated to his family.

• They live happily with high hope for a better future.

Their hope and future had gone.

However, they have to survive.

• The wife starts processing and selling the crispy pork skin at the market. (She did not want to work at the station or Shell office)

• She makes about USD 1 per day.

• Her father makes about USD 2 per day from shoes repairing.

• They can’t make regular income.

• They have to work hard to survive without promising future.