Inspection Detail

Inspection: 120322482 - Anchors Way Marine Centers

Inspection Information - Office: Van Nuys District Office

Investigation Summary

On August 5, 2005, Employee #1 and a coworker were removing a 65-foot mast weighing approximately 1,000 pounds from a 55-foot wooden boat, which was stored in a yard. A "bowline" rope was placed around the mast and Employee #1 hooked it to the crane. The tail of the rope was then wrapped into rolling hitches along the lower part of the mast. The "bowline" was attached approximately 20 feet from the bottom of the mast. The cables which hold the mast to the boat were then removed, wrapped with a rope, and secured to the mast for storage. Employee #1 and the coworker were located on either side of the mast and were each holding a "tag line." The crane started lifting the mast up and out of the hole in the deck and it had reached about one foot above the deck when the mast started to tilt. Employee #1 and the coworker were holding the mast and the tag line, attempting to control the tilt. The coworker saw that they were not able to stop the tilt, so he let go of the tag line. Employee #1 continued holding onto the mast and the tag line and was lifted up in the air, until he let go of the tag line and fell approximately 15 to 20 feet to the ground. He suffered multiple fractured ribs and a pulmonary contusion and was hospitalized for treatment.

Keywords: FRACTURE, WIRE ROPE, BOOM, RIB, FALL, TAG LINE, BOAT, CRANE