U.S. laker fleet experiences second fatal conveyor accident in a year

摘要

A crewman on a laker was killed when a conveyor belt started up while he was repairing a hydraulic leak, prompting the U.S. Coast Guard to warn the industry that better safety practices are necessary.The accident happened Nov. 12, 2011, aboard St. Marys Challenger, the oldest vessel in the U.S. and Canadian laker fleets, while the 551-foot self-unloading cement carrier was docked at Milwaukee, Wis. Ronald Lee Hackensmith, 61, was killed after the conveyor belt amputated his arm at the shoulder, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner.Hackensmith, a conveyorman, was working alone, three decks below the main deck of the 106-year-old boat. While he was servicing the hydraulic leak, he asked for the 782-foot-long conveyor belt to be shut down. Without a request to start the belt back up again, it did restart. His arm was caught in it, the medical examiner's report said. A dishwasher heard the screaming from two decks up.