Inspection Detail

Inspection: 316215268 - State Crane Llc Dba Russell'S Crane Service

Inspection Information - Office: San Bernardino District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11, 2014, an employee was working as a rigger, or crane and tower operator, for State Crane LLC, dba Russell's Crane Service. State Crane was primarily engaged renting or leasing heavy construction equipment, with or without operators. The employee had been employed by State Crane for approximately four months up until the day of the incident. The employee was working at a privately owned cell tower communications yard in San Bernardino, CA. His employer had been contracted by Westower Communications Inc. to remove and relocate an existing communications building structure located on the premises. The employee was helping detach a plywood roof from a concrete building structure with the use of an 81,600-kilogram (90-ton) crane. He was in an elevated location, when he fell approximately 2.4 to 3.0 meters (8 to 10 feet). He sustained multiple fractures and other injuries. He was transported by ambulance to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, where he was admitted for a collapsed lung, six fractured ribs on his right side, and multiple bruises. He was released from the hospital on February 18, 2014. The employer filed a report with the Division at approximately 8:15 a.m. on Wednesday, February 12, 2014.

Keywords: FRACTURE, LUNG, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, CONSTRUCTION, RIB, FALL, CRANE OPERATOR, LOST BALANCE, CONTUSION, CRANE