Dedicated to preventing construction site accidents, scaffolding accidents, crane injuries, explosion accidents, chemical injuries and mesothelioma deaths through accountability.
Construction Site Accident Personal Injury Lawyers
Providing Litigation for Construction Site Accident Claims
Designated Competent Person on Site (1926.20(b)(2)):
Yes
Employer Safety Health Program:
Yes
Training and Education for Employees:
Yes
Craft of Deceased Employee(s):
Iron Worker
Management Trainee
Age & Sex
Ironworker-35; male
Management Trainee-26; male
Time on the Job:
1 hour
Time on Task:
1 hour
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT
A crew of ironworkers and a crane operator were unloading a 20-ton steel slab from a low-boy trailer using a 50-ton crawler crane with 90-foot lattice boom. The operator was inexperienced on this crane and did not know the length of the boom. Further, no one had determined the load radius. During lifting, the load moved forward and to the right, placing a twisting force on the boom. The boom twisted under the load, swinging down, under and to the right. Two employees standing 30 feet away apparently saw the boom begin to swing and ran. The boom struck one of the employees - an ironworker - on the head, causing instant death. Wire rope struck the other -- a management trainee -- causing internal injuries. He died two hours later at a local hospital.
ACCIDENT PREVENTION RECOMMENDATIONS
Train and test operators to determine qualifications: 29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2) and 29 CFR 1926.550(b) ANSI B30.5 5-3.1.2.
Require proper written procedures to insure the method for lifting is within manufacturer's specifications: 29 CFR 1926.550(a)(1).
NOTE:The case here described was selected as being representative of fatalities caused by improper work practices. No special emphasis or priority is implied nor is the case necessarily a recent occurrence. The legal aspects of the incident have been resolved, and the case is now closed.
