Feds: Crane (one of the largest) operator in fatal accident untrained (4 including operator dead)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6216130.html

By DANE SCHILLER
Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
Jan. 16, 2009, 9:49PM

The man at the helm of one of the world’s largest cranes when it flipped over backward and killed him and three other workers at a Houston refinery in July had never been in the machine’s cab before and was not qualified for the job, federal regulators said Friday.

Although he was a seasoned operator of other large cranes of a similar style, it was the operator’s first day driving the giant TC 36000, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The crane, about 300 feet tall, was being prepared to lift 2 million pounds as part of a plant maintenance operation.


Steve Ueckert | Chronicle
LyondellBasell has reviewed the July accident to determine why it occurred and how it could be prevented from happening again in the industry.


It collapsed backward and fell on a smaller crane when its massive boom reached an unsafe angle, according to a report released Friday by the agency known as OSHA.

“Not only was the crane operator inadequately trained, but the project superintendent did not ensure the crane did not reach hazardous conditions,” OSHA area director Mark Briggs said.

“If OSHA’s regulations and industry standards had been followed, it is possible this tragedy could have been prevented,” Briggs continued, in a statement released by the agency.

FULL story at link.

[existentialist]

1. crane operators

I know a person who operates cranes that are much smaller--but still pieces of equipment costing hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars. I don't know her level of training, but I do know that she told me she was earning less than $13.00 per hour.

I was astonished that someone owning a piece of equipment that expensive would entrust its operation to someone they paid so little.

[MadMaddie]

2. This is why it is critical to have spot checks on cranes

checking the equipment and the qualifications of the operators.

Another accident that didn't have to happen.