Chelsea firefighters extricate injured worker from excavator

A Department of Public Works employee’s legs became wedged between the controllers of his loader and a dump truck.Paul Koolloian

A public works employee suffered crushing injuries to his legs when he became wedged behind the controls of his Bobcat vehicle after it came into contact with a dump truck Thursday morning in Chelsea, officials said.

The 53-year-old worker was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, Chelsea Fire Captain Michael Masucci said.

Chelsea firefighters responded to the accident on Orange Street just after 10:45 a.m.

The worker had been using the skid-steer loader with a hoe attachment to dig a hole in the sidewalk when the arm of the backhoe was pinned against a dump truck, forcing the main unit to wedge him from the waist down against the Bobcat, Masucci said.

Firefighters used a piece of equipment called a grip hoist to wrap around the dump truck and the controls of the skid-steer loader and lift them off the worker.

The unidentified worker was trapped for approximately 15 to 20 minutes, Masucci said.

Chelsea fire officials are investigating the cause of the accident and have contacted the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration.