Abstract
On December 14, 2000, a 38-year-old stevedore (the victim) was fatally injured while working at a river-port materials handling facility after being struck by the boom of the mobile crane on site. The victim and a coworker had been previously lowered from the dock level via a crane-suspended personnel platform, and landed on a barge. After they had disembarked from the personnel platform, the port manager, who was operating the crane, began to hoist it back to the dock. The platform had reportedly been raised about 2 feet when the right-side boom pendant rode out of the boom tip pendant sheave, immediately introducing 200 feet of slack into the boom-hoist system. The slack subsequently caused the boom to fall. The victim apparently observed the boom falling and pushed his coworker aside and out of the way. The boom hit the edge of the dock, broke over the dockside, and struck the victim. The port manager immediately left the crane cab and went to the edge of the dock. Seeing the victim under the boom tip, he contacted another river-port company for assistance. A truck driver who had been waiting on the dock called 911. Emergency medical service personnel and fire fighters responded within 7 to 10 minutes. However, the victim died on the scene. NIOSH investigators concluded that to help prevent similar occurrences employers should: 1. ensure that examinations are conducted each day prior to placing a crane in service to detect defective operating components or other conditions affecting safe operation; 2. ensure that idled cranes are positioned to facilitate effective pre-use examinations; and, 3. ensure that workers are trained to evaluate the effects of severe weather conditions on facilities and equipment.
