Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 758540 - 6 CONSTRUCTION WORKERS INJURED IN BRIDGE COLLAPSE

Accident Summary Nr: 758540 -- Report ID: 0551800 -- Event Date: 04/15/1988
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
103977070	04/16/1988	1795	0	Deichman Excavating Co

Abstract: ON APRIL 15, 1988, SEVEN EMPLOYEES WERE TAKING PART IN THE DEMOLITION OF A THREE SPAN, TWO PIER, EARTH FILLED, REINFORCED CONCRETE ARCH BRIDGE OVER THE WABASH RIVER. ONE EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING A CRANE, THE OTHER SIX WERE WATCHING. THE CRANE WAS SET ON THE MIDDLE SPAN AND WAS BEING USED TO KNOCK OUT THE NORTH SPAN. WHEN THE NORTH SPAN WAS COMPLETELY GONE A SECTION OF THE NORTH PIER SUDDENLY ROTATED TO THE NORTH, PULLING THE BRIDGE DECK AND ARCH OF THE MIDDLE SPAN WITH IT. THE LOSS OF SUPPORT CAUSED THE COLLAPSE OF THE MIDDLE SPAN, AND SUSEQUENTLY, THE SOUTH SPAN. THE CRANE AND OPERATOR AND THE SIX WATCHING EMPLOYEES FELL ALONG WITH THE BRIDGE. THE SIX WATCHING EMPLOYEES WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. EMPLOYEES #1 AND #2 WERE HOSPITALIZED. THE OTHER FOUR WERE TREATED AND RELEASED. THE CRANE OPERATOR WAS NOT INJURED.

Keywords: DEMOLITION, COLLAPSE, CONSTRUCTION, FALL, BRIDGE, UNSTABLE POSITION

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	103977070	Non Hospitalized injury	Cut/Laceration	Construction trades, n.e.c.
2	103977070	Hospitalized injury	Cut/Laceration	Construction trades, n.e.c.
3	103977070	Hospitalized injury	Fracture	Construction trades, n.e.c.
4	103977070	Non Hospitalized injury	Strain/Sprain	Construction trades, n.e.c.
5	103977070	Non Hospitalized injury	Bruise/Contus/Abras	Supervisors, n.e.c.
6	103977070	Non Hospitalized injury	Bruise/Contus/Abras	Construction trades, n.e.c.

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