Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report for California: An Electrician Dies When He Is Crushed Between a Traveling Hoist and a Plating Tank, FACE-13-CA-004.

摘要

An electrician died when he was crushed between a traveling hoist and a chrome plating tank. The victim was standing on the elevated catwalk between rows of plating tanks and was most likely leaning over a tank checking on a recent pump installation when the traveling hoist rolled past him, pinning him against the tank. The incident was not witnessed. The hoist operator stated that he was not aware that the victim was in a restricted area (danger zone) between the tanks. The traveling hoist was computer-controlled and moved automatically, and was programmed and monitored by an operator located at the front end of the plating tanks. The safety sensor device on the traveling hoist was designed to immediately shut off when it made contact with an object. However, this device was non-operational at the time of the incident. The CA/FACE investigator determined that in order to prevent future incidents, employers with moving machinery within a restricted work areas should: 1. Ensure that moving machinery is inoperable when employee access into a danger zone is required. 2. Ensure that emergency safety devices are maintained in operating condition.