Fatal Accident Circumstances and Epidemiology (FACE) Report: Laborer Dies AfterBeing Struck by Overturning Crane, Virginia, August 8, 1994

摘要

This report concerned the death of a 24 year old construction worker who wasstruck by the end of a crane boom as the crane tipped over. At the time of the accident the man was working with a construction crew. A crane had been placed on rough terrain for the purpose of lowering buckets of gravel and concrete down to the ditch line, some 20 feet below the shoulder edge of the highway. The crane was set up on fully extended outriggers, with the left side outrigger floats placed on stacked wooden blocks, providing additional bearing surface on the shoulder's newly placed fill material. The blocks also tipped the crane slightly toward the highway for additional resistance to the load. About 3 weeks prior to this event a crane had tipped, and this procedure was followed since that time for added security. The victim's job was to trip the bucket's discharge mechanism. The ditch side outrigger floats slipped off the timbers, allowing the crane to slide and tip over toward the ditch. The head sheave of the boom contacted the victim, fracturing his skull and amputating his right arm above the elbow. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Recommendations include proper set up of a crane, following correct operating procedures for crane set up and lift configurations, and ensuring that all crane components are properly rigged while lifting operations are being conducted.