Employee #1 was using an oxygenacetylene torch to burn off structural steel bridge members, when he fell approximately 20 feet. He landed on a construction barge under the bridge, sustaining neck and back injuries.
There were no nets provided, nor was there a catch platform to arrest his fall. Employee #1 was wearing a safety belt, but his lanyard was not tied off .
What went wrong?
Two layers of injury prevention in the event of a fall were missing—the employee’s safety belt was not attached by a lanyard to a secure frame that would have kept him from falling, and no safety net was in place.
Crane on barge in waterway tips over, operators jump from cab, one fatality
Employees #1 and #2 were in the cab of a crane on a dredging barge where they were recovering material from a waterway. As the crane proceeded to lift a load on board, the crane became unbalanced and fell into the waterway.
Both employees jumped from the control cab of the crane. Employee #2 landed upon the deck of the barge where he received head injuries. Employee #1 fell hitting the deck and subsequently plunged into the waterway. The impact of him striking the surface of the deck and water most likely knocked him unconscious, leading to his drowning.
What went wrong?
The first issue is how and why the crane tipped over and fell into the water, and not enough information is given in the OSHA report. (OSHA reports focus on injuries to workers). The barge may not have its spuds set properly; the crane may have placed in the wrong location or not secured adequately against movement.
When a crane tips over, there is little recourse to prevent injury to the operator (or operators) should they jump from the cab. If the crane will be in one location for a period of time, nets can be set around it, but that is not required by law and not commonly done. However, a secured hard hat may have prevented the head injuries incurred by both employees.
Reprinted from Marine Construction Magazine, Issue III, 2023.
