Since Track Marshal Mark Robinson, who tripped and was run over by a crane while the Esteban Gutierrez’s Sauber was being recovered after the race, Quebec’s Workplace Health and Safety Board has released a report of its investigation.
The Board concluded that any safety training conducted had not been sufficient, and that the method used to remove the abandoned car was dangerous. The crane was moving too quickly and the car was hanging too high. Nobody should have been in front of the crane to stabilize the car as it was being moved back to the pit area. Mark was taken to the track’s medical facility and then to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
While speaking at the annual Watkins Lecture run by the Motorsport Safety Fund at Autosport International, FIA race director Charlie Whiting stated that, “Advice will be given to race organizers to improve marshal safety.” He also added that, “The accident in Canada was dreadfully unfortunate. Things will change in that respect. Since that accident, we have briefed everyone. If you are using one of those JCB-like vehicles to lift a car, you should never walk in front of it.”
He also said that the Brazilian system used to stabilize a car being lifted by a crane would be recommended to other events, as this would reduce the number of marshals needed in the area of the crane and it stops it twisting so you don’t need people to stabilize it.
This can be a dangerous sport.
Previous death at a Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.
1982 rookie driver Riccardo Paletti, Osella team, was killed when he slammed into another car.
Other F1 deaths:
A marshal was killed at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix when a crash sent all four tires and other debris across the track and into a fence.
Fire marshal at the 2000 Italian Grand Prix died when he was struck by a wheel thrown from a multi car crash.
Canadian cities motorsport deaths.
1996 Toronto Molson Indy, a marshal & driver died when 2 cars touched tires sending Jeff Krasnoff’s car airborne.
1990 Vancouver Molson Indy a marshal was killed when the at the scene of an incident.
When things like this happen it is best to look at everything and make the changes required to ensure a higher level of safety to prevent these happening again.
My marshaling tip: If you are to travel to different tracks or work with different clubs, find out about how they are different to be able to work with. I found almost every track & club has a different way of doing something. So make sure you know all the emergency protocols of where you are as a marshal.