Inspection Detail

Inspection: 125708537 - Bragg Crane Service

Inspection Information - Office: Sacramento District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 10:30 a.m. on December 12, 2002, a crane company was lifting a concrete panel for a new building project. The panel being lifted was the fourth pick of the day and was next to a panel that had already been set. The crane company was using a 300-Ton Link Belt crane and was lifting a panel that measured 22-ft-5-in. high by 24-ft-11-in. wide and weighed 101,000 pounds. The crane had a 115-ft lattice boom, and the rigging weighed approximately 12,500 pounds. The operator of the crane was being directed by Employee #1, the rigging foreman, who was standing next to the panel as it was being lifted. The oiler and two other employees of the crane company were standing next to Employee #1. Assisting with the lift were three employees of the company that poured the concrete for the panels whose jobs were to set the bracing for the panels. As the crane operator lifted the panel, the top edge was at approximately 12 ft and the bottom was on the floor. The operator began to drag the panel to set it in place and it began to take off at an accelerated speed towards the crane. The operator swung the boom to avoid hitting Employee #1 and the oiler. When the crane operator swung the boom the top edge of the panel struck the panel that was already set in place. When the sliding panel struck the standing panel the braces gave way and wall fell into the cranes boom. With the weight of the panel on the crane boom and the panel striking it the crane collapsed. As the crane collapsed, the crane's rigging came down on Employee #1 and crushed his skull and broke his back. Employee #1 died upon impact with the crane's rigging.

Keywords: FRACTURE, RIGGING, CONSTRUCTION, BACK, CRUSHED, SKULL, STRUCK BY, FALLING OBJECT, LOST CONTROL, CRANE