Inspection Detail

Inspection: 100320001 - Weller Service Corporation

Inspection Information - Office: Dallas Area Office

Investigation Summary

EMPLOYEE #1 WAS RIGGING AND FLAGGING AN FMC LINKBELT TELESCOPING CRANE, SERIAL NUMBER 45H0-409D, LOCATED IN THE YARD AREA OF A LARGE STEEL COMPANY. WHILE PREPARING A PICK ON A 5 TON RAILCAR WHEEL TRUCK, THE AUXILLIARY LINE SNAPPED, ALLOWING THE AUXILLIARY BALL AND HOOK TO FALL 40 FEET AND STRIKE THE EMPLOYEE ON THE LEFT SHOULDER. HE DIED THE NEXT DAY. WHEN THE BOOM WAS EXTENDED, THE SLACK IN THE AUXILLIARY LINE WAS TAKEN UP UNTIL THE LOAD BLOCK CONTACTED THE BOOM END SHEAVE ASSEMBLY, CAUSING THE CABLE TO SEPARATE AND THE BALL AND HOOK TO FALL. DURING BOOM EXTENSION THE EMPLOYEE HAD SIGNALED FOR SLACK IN THE AUXILLIARY LINE. THE OPERATOR GAVE SLACK BUT STOPPED WHEN SIGNALED TO DO SO BY EMPLOYEE #1. THE BOOM HAD BEEN EXTENDED 64 FEET, ONLY 6 FEET FROM ITS LIMIT. THE EMPLOYEE DIED FROM NUMEROUS BROKEN BONES AND MASSIVE INTERNAL INJURIES.

Keywords: CRANE BALL, FRACTURE, CRANE HOOK, CRANE BOOM, WORK RULES, BROKEN CABLE, FALLING OBJECT, CRANE, INATTENTION