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Crane Accidents for August 1999 About dead linksAugust Reports Received: 9 August Deaths: 6 Deaths to date for 1999: 27 (reported to this site) Accident Reports Received for 1999: 51 Late reports are not included in the above numbers. The above numbers are global.  August 26, 1999: Bridgeton, Missouri — | Dead Link || Cache Copy | 
 August 25, 1999: Ontario, Canada — Power line AccidentCrane was set up next to 60KV line within legal operating distance (confirmed by measurements.) Load that was to be picked (concrete pads) was set directly under lines. Ironically the person who placed the material to be picked was himself a crane operator, operating a loader or forklift on that day. Accident occurred when electricity "arched" from power lines to main hoist line just as the rigger attempted to rig the load. Foreman standing next to him just missed grabbing 4 way energized chokers by a fraction of a second. It appears the crane took a good portion of the electrical load as a tire blew on the crane. Sadly, it appears the rigger ( age 20's-30's) may loose a foot. No physical contact was made with the lines, however the accident occurred at 4 P.M. and there was very high humidity at the time. The arcing between the lines and point sheave of the crane (Hydraulic Link-Belt) was a witnessed event. Additionally it appears the power lines may have sagged due to afternoon current load, from the original elevation they were at in the morning. The accident was 100 percent preventable. Power company later confirmed that the lines could have been de-enegized, had a phone call been placed to the Utility for a scheduled outage.
August 24, 1999: Salt Lake City, Utah — Another Power line Accident Brief Summary from the Deseret NewsAccident occurred on I-15 reconstruction project ( $ 3 billion highway renovation to complete in 2001) when the operator, without aid of a spotter backed his crane (boom raised) on a closed section of new freeway into a 46kv
line to avoid automobiles parked in the work area. (Operator had been running cranes for many years.) The crane immediately became energized and remained energized for an estimated 25 minutes. The power company (Utah Power and Light) circuit breakers did not trip, and the power grid indicators showed an increased demand and not an
event that warranted an automatic line shut down. Meanwhile the crane turned in to an incredible fire ball and the operator had no option but to bail out. When he jumped he was electrocuted. He landed on the ground and began a series on log rolls. Nearby workers, completed the rescue at much peril to them selves. Operator was air-lifted to local medical facility where incredibly, his only injury was an exit wound to the foot and severe muscle cramps, and as discharged from the hospital after only one night's observation. The electrical current continued to flow to the crane and completely crystalized the 10 inch concrete pavement and burned completely through, making a bomb like
crater. To add to the hazard, the concrete freeway section was built on a "styrofoam fill". As the current continued to go to ground, the buried blocks of styrofoam (several feet thick) caught fire. As many may not be aware, when styrofoam burns, it gives off cyanide gas. The main north/south freeway artery was closed for several hours. Fire fighting efforts were hampered at first by lack of electrical shut down and secondly by the off gassing of the styrofoam. Ironically, this line had been hit several months ago by another contractor on the project. The line is marked with warning signs as per project and OSHA requirements. This accident occurred at 11:00 A.M. At 2:00 A.M. the following morning on the same project several miles removed, a tracked mobile drill had lowered it's mast to clear a power line, passed under safely, and re-erected the mast. A service truck pulled up to fuel the rig, and the operator swung the upper carrier around 90 degrees to accommodate the fuel truck and swung into and made contact with the power line he had just passed under. A second tragedy was averted, however, as the project safety team had done a Hazard Analysis on that particular section of work, and had made sure the power line was de-energized. The job dodged two bullets in one day. August 21, 1999: Long Beach, CaliforniaA 40-year-old mechanic was crushed to death Friday while working 200 feet above ground on a cargo crane in the Port of Long Beach. August 20, 1999: Winnipeg, CanadaWorker dies in crane accident An out-of-control crane led to the death of a Winnipeg construction worker Thursday. Police say the crane was lowering a steel beam when the load shifted, striking the 20-year-old man. Investigators ponder why crane fell. View Video Clips. August 19, 1999: Beatrice, Nebraska — A construction crane accident caused the death of one worker and seriously injured another Thursday in Beatrice. See Complete story and photos August 11, 1999: Salt Lake City, Utah — A crane being used in construction of a new Mormon Church building was toppled.KSL reported that about 1,000 workers were on the site at the time and at least two were injured. See Photo of the crumbled boom. See Deseret News Report | Dead Link | August 9, 1999: Lebanon, Indiana — A report came in today about a crane related accident that resulted in the death a man. It happened two or three weeks ago near Lebanon, Indiana. The report was confirmed and the information is being sent by snail mail. As soon as it is available it will be posted here ( the information never came). In the meantime, if anyone has any information about this accident, please report it to Lebanon@CraneAccidents.com August 9, 1999: Vidor, Texas — A 36 year old man was killed Wednesday July 28th when he fell from a crane while changing light bulbs on a store sign. Investigators said Mark Edmond Robichau fell about 40 feet after the safety chair he was strapped into fell from the end of a "cherry picker" at 1055 North Main in Vidor. The accident occurred about 1 p.m. Robichau was transported to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital, where he died in surgery. CraneAccidents.com |
