Abstract: THE EMPLOYER WAS BUILDING A CONCRETE REINFORCED BRIDGE, REPLACING AN OLDER STEEL BRIDGE OVER A LARGE DITCH ALONGSIDE A LEVEE. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS A CARPENTER WHO WAS LOADING STEEL PILINGS ONTO A LOWBOY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ANOTHER EMPLOYEE WAS USING A BACKHOE TO PROVIDE THE FORCE NEEDED TO LIFT THE PILING. A THIRD EMPLOYEE, THE TRUCK DRIVER, WAS ASSISTING IN ALIGNING THE SUSPENDED PILING SO THAT IT COULD BE LOWERED ONTO THE LOWBOY. THE EMPLOYER HAD PROVIDED A SHOP-MADE LIFTING DEVICE WITH A PINCHER TYPE ACTION TO PICK UP THE PILING AND HOLD IT. AT SOME POINT, WITH THE DECEASED STANDING ON THE LOWBOY TO GUIDE THE PILING, THE PILING UNEXPECTEDLY DROPPED A SHORT DISTANCE AND BOUNCED UP FROM THE LOWBOY, STRIKING EMPLOYEE #1 IN THE HEAD. EMPLOYEE #1 DIED OF A CRUSHING INJURY TO HIS HEAD.