An Electrician Dies When He Is Crushed Between a Traveling Hoist and a Plating Tank

California Case Report: 13CA004

The following report is the product of our Cooperative State partner and is presented here in its original unedited form from the state. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the individual Cooperative State partner and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

SUMMARY

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.

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