Exercise: Accident Scenario
Read the accident investigation summary and see what recommendations you might have.
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.
What would you recommend?
Recommendations
- train and test operators to determine qualifications - 29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2), 29 CFR 1926.1427, and ANSI B30.5 5-3.1.2
- require proper written procedures to ensure the method for lifting is within manufacturer's specifications - 29 CFR 1926.1417