@HBCraig

[FROGMAN524]

Doesn't seem like it should have been fatal. Who screwed up?

 

[old rigger]

Doesn't seem like it should have been fatal. Who screwed up?

Doesn't seem like it should have been fatal? Poor guy had both legs severed off, he probably bled out before anyone got to him.
I'm surprised the force that hit him didn't snap his spinal cord.

 

[FROGMAN524]

Doesn't seem like it should have been fatal? Poor guy had both legs severed off, he probably bled out before anyone got to him.
I'm surprised the force that hit him didn't snap his spinal cord.

I watched it ten times and thought the force of the thing hitting him knocked him back far enough that his legs didn’t get severed. It’s hard to tell on my phone screen.

 

[Nordie]

Looks like the rigging failed, the crane operator ultimately has the say so, but it looks like something occurred with the rigging.

Any time I do a critical pick I draw up a pick plan. This includes either steel chokers or nylon straps, as well as shackle sizes, and overall weights. If I'm picking say 10 or 15 thousand pounds my rigging will hold if 3 of the 4 fail, meaning one strap will physically hold the load. Also on any of my projects I do no allow any shackles or rigging that is not American made.

This is an absolute failure...it's unfortunate that someone was not able to go home to their family.

 

[old rigger]

I watched it ten times and thought the force of the thing hitting him knocked him back far enough that his legs didn’t get severed. It’s hard to tell on my phone screen.

I watched on my phone too but there are banners across the top of the screen that explain what happened.

 

[ArizonaKevin]

Looks like the rigging failed, the crane operator ultimately has the say so, but it looks like something occurred with the rigging.

Any time I do a critical pick I draw up a pick plan. This includes either steel chokers or nylon straps, as well as shackle sizes, and overall weights. If I'm picking say 10 or 15 thousand pounds my rigging will hold if 3 of the 4 fail, meaning one strap will physically hold the load. Also on any of my projects I do no allow any shackles or rigging that is not American made.

This is an absolute failure...it's unfortunate that someone was not able to go home to their family.

since it sounds like you are in this industry, is it normal for people to walking around that close to something this big/heavy being moved? His bad break was that the rigging broke asymmetrically, seems to my eye that if it fell straight down he would have been fine.

 

[ArizonaKevin]

Saw this in the comment section on YT "More information: this accident occurred on May 10, 2014, at Gulf Stream Marine, in Houston, Texas, "when a pin in the spreader bar came out of its housing causing the wire rope to disengage." Gulf Stream Marine was fined $7,000."

 

[monkeyswrench]

I watched it ten times and thought the force of the thing hitting him knocked him back far enough that his legs didn’t get severed. It’s hard to tell on my phone screen.

From that angle, it looks as the initial jolt knocked him down, but the carriage, the red framework, could have been what severed his legs. Add to that the lack of response, and the blood loss would be massive.
Sad deal. Crane lifts were cool to watch, but also scary on the roof decks. I've never been around anything nearly that heavy either.

 

[HBCraig]

Doesn't seem like it should have been fatal. Who screwed up?

Loos like the rigging failed. At least to me. Rigging is so important. This had to have been deemed a critical pick requiring pick plans. That being said these are the Harbour cranes. Most likely on a pedestal mount meaning there isn't a mobile aspect to it. Therefore the rigging needs to be dead nuts on. Could've been a shackle and or slings that failed. Poor guy

 

[rivrrts429]

since it sounds like you are in this industry, is it normal for people to walking around that close to something this big/heavy being moved? His bad break was that the rigging broke asymmetrically, seems to my eye that if it fell straight down he would have been fine.

I see it all the time in the ports and construction jobs. Some of these guys are nuts standing so close but when placing has to be critically precise I don’t see another way.

 

[CLdrinker]

Dam

 

[ArizonaKevin]

I see it all the time in the ports and construction jobs. Some of these guys are nuts standing so close but when placing has to be critically precise I don’t see another way.

So they are communicating with the crane operator where it needs to move to get it in the precise spot? Shit the police bodycams that I sell can be set on the ground, you can pair your smartphone and see what the camera is seeing to make calls on where something needs to go. Some PD will use it in a barricade situation to put a camera facing at the dude's door and have everyone else safely behind cover

 

[Nordie]

since it sounds like you are in this industry, is it normal for people to walking around that close to something this big/heavy being moved? His bad break was that the rigging broke asymmetrically, seems to my eye that if it fell straight down he would have been fine.

It actually seemed like the guys were being smartish, they're using boards to shuffle the load around. Anything that heavy no one and I mean no one wants to camp under any type of load. It does happen here and there, the load eventually has to be set down.

Once one of the chokers failed it shock loads another, so now you have a catastrophic failure, 2 chokers stayed intact and 2 failed.

Rigging fails, but this is why you do a pick plan, maybe they underestimated the actual weight of the pick, or maybe the rigging actually failed. When you make this type of pick you're supposed to factor in a loss.

@HBCraig is probably a little more versed than I am, I'm just an ironworker

 

[HBCraig]

Looks like the rigging failed, the crane operator ultimately has the say so, but it looks like something occurred with the rigging.

Any time I do a critical pick I draw up a pick plan. This includes either steel chokers or nylon straps, as well as shackle sizes, and overall weights. If I'm picking say 10 or 15 thousand pounds my rigging will hold if 3 of the 4 fail, meaning one strap will physically hold the load. Also on any of my projects I do no allow any shackles or rigging that is not American made.

This is an absolute failure...it's unfortunate that someone was not able to go home to their family.

All smart things to do.

 

[HBCraig]

So they are communicating with the crane operator where it needs to move to get it in the precise spot? Shit the police bodycams that I sell can be set on the ground, you can pair your smartphone and see what the camera is seeing to make calls on where something needs to go. Some PD will use it in a barricade situation to put a camera facing at the dude's door and have everyone else safely behind cover

We also have a boom tip camera that follows the load so the operator can see it

 

[Havasu blue label]

Rigging and to many guys in the hole

 

[mobldj]

all my years working on the railroad,i would jack cars up off the trucks ( wheels and bolsters and side frames) and roll them out and put stands under the center sill to hold up the car.everyday for 25 years it scared the fuck out of me. it would squish you like a fucking grape. that big a lift in the video i would quit.lol

 

[Icky]

Being this close to something when setting it down is pretty normal. Looks like the guys were throwing down cribbing to set the load on. The only real thing I see "unsafe" is the guys off to the right with no fall protection.

 

[zbudman]

Being this close to something when setting it down is pretty normal. Looks like the guys were throwing down cribbing to set the load on. The only real thing I see "unsafe" is the guys off to the right with no fall protection.

What is Fall Protection?

 

[Icky]

What is Fall Protection?

Not stepping off the edge

 

[rrrr]

That cribbing should have been in place before the load was dropped into the hold. Having 350 tons on hook while men performed work just inches from it was extremely poor planning. A tape measure and some forethought would have prevented the fatality. I always planned so picks occurred promptly, and after being hoisted, manuevered into place with as little delay as possible.

A post above says a pin on the spreader bar failed. When the load dropped, the chokers on the dropped side did not fail, they were still intact. That indicates the pin or shackle that held the near side chokers between the load hook and the spreader failed.

That allowed the near side of the spreader to drop to an almost vertical position, and the chokers between the spreader and load apparently slipped off the spreader hook, and the load fell.

 

[monkeyswrench]

So they are communicating with the crane operator where it needs to move to get it in the precise spot? Shit the police bodycams that I sell can be set on the ground, you can pair your smartphone and see what the camera is seeing to make calls on where something needs to go. Some PD will use it in a barricade situation to put a camera facing at the dude's door and have everyone else safely behind cover

Do the body cam type setups have the ability to judge distances? If something like that could be temporarily mounted on the perimeter of either the lifted piece or the placement area, it would be helpful I think?

As @rrrr said, the cribbing should have been placed before the load was rigged. Measure it out and mark it. I didn't like guiding AC units in place. Probably only 3-4,000lbs, but still enough to hurt or kill you.

 

[ArizonaKevin]

Do the body cam type setups have the ability to judge distances? If something like that could be temporarily mounted on the perimeter of either the lifted piece or the placement area, it would be helpful I think?

As @rrrr said, the cribbing should have been placed before the load was rigged. Measure it out and mark it. I didn't like guiding AC units in place. Probably only 3-4,000lbs, but still enough to hurt or kill you.

current state no, it would look just like the below screenshot. If there's a big enough market I'm sure things could be engineered. Outside of my department, though.

 

[monkeyswrench]

current state no, it would look just like the below screenshot. If there's a big enough market I'm sure things could be engineered. Outside of my department, though.

I think these days it may not be about volume, but profitability...that and who is lobbied.
Maybe a hot rodded camera for the boom, that could give the operator critical info. Almost fighter pilot stuff. As a business though, the liability would be huge for any of them.

 

[Icky]

That cribbing should have been in place before the load was dropped into the hold. Having 350 tons on hook while men performed work just inches from it was extremely poor planning. A tape measure and some forethought would have prevented the fatality. I always planned so picks occurred promptly, and after being hoisted, manuevered into place with as little delay as possible.

A post above says a pin on the spreader bar failed. When the load dropped, the chokers on the dropped side did not fail, they were still intact. That indicates the pin or shackle that held the near side chokers between the load hook and the spreader failed.

That allowed the near side of the spreader to drop to an almost vertical position, and the chokers between the spreader and load apparently slipped off the spreader hook, and the load fell.

I dont know that they had a spreader bar, at least between the two sides they didn't as one side is still holding weight. If you watch the very end of the video, they have picture in picture of when it fails. Also, note the angle of the slings, seems like a shackle failed.

Had they preset the wood, they would've been repositioning it once it got close to the deck

I can only imagine having to rehook that load and make it safe before being able to provide medical attention

 

[liquid addiction]

It sucks watching that over and knowing what is going to happen when the big guy is walking to spot he gets hit. RIP

 

[rrrr]

Saw this in the comment section on YT "More information: this accident occurred on May 10, 2014, at Gulf Stream Marine, in Houston, Texas, "when a pin in the spreader bar came out of its housing causing the wire rope to disengage." Gulf Stream Marine was fined $7,000."

I dont know that they had a spreader bar, at least between the two sides they didn't as one side is still holding weight. If you watch the very end of the video, they have picture in picture of when it fails. Also, note the angle of the slings, seems like a shackle failed.

Had they preset the wood, they would've been repositioning it once it got close to the deck

I can only imagine having to rehook that load and make it safe before being able to provide medical attention

As you can see above, a spreader failure apparently caused the accident.

I don't know why the cribbing would have had to be repositioned. Measure the footprint of the support frame, mark it out on the hold deck, and put it in place. I've prepositioned things like cribbing, support frames, and vibration isolators on probably a few hundred lifts. It's not rocket science.

 

[Icky]

As you can see above, a spreader failure apparently caused the accident.

I don't know why the cribbing would have had to be repositioned. Measure the footprint of the support frame, mark it out on the hold deck, and put it in place. I've prepositioned things like cribbing, support frames, and vibration isolators on probably a few hundred lifts. It's not rocket science.

The osha report said the same thing as you mentioned above, I stand corrected. Looking up things, that company is no stranger to fatalities unfortunately.

 

[monkeyswrench]

I can only imagine having to rehook that load and make it safe before being able to provide medical attention

Had never thought about that...nothing around can move that lift, except the thing that was already holding it

 

[Bowtiepower00]

When working with cranes, always assume the load is going to fall and plan accordingly. No reason for this incident to happen, IMO.

 

[monkeyswrench]

When working with cranes, always assume the load is going to fall and plan accordingly. No reason for this incident to happen, IMO.

We were always told don't be under or near a lift. When it touched down, cable slacked, then you could approach to unhook.
What I never understood as a roofer, crane lifts meant hardhats...like a hardhat was going to save you. If anything, full Tom & Jerry, body crammed into the bucket...

 

[Bowtiepower00]

We were always told don't be under or near a lift. When it touched down, cable slacked, then you could approach to unhook.
What I never understood as a roofer, crane lifts meant hardhats...like a hardhat was going to save you. If anything, full Tom & Jerry, body crammed into the bucket...

You roofers are a different breed. Did some steel Roofing replacement on industrial parks, etc, scary shit. Seen some wind gusts damn near kill some of my coworkers.

 

[monkeyswrench]

You roofers are a different breed. Did some steel Roofing replacement on industrial parks, etc, scary shit. Seen some wind gusts damn near kill some of my coworkers.

It was some exciting times. I miss it some days, but other mornings I am reminded why I don't do it anymore.
Metal roofing and wind are sketchy at best. Putting up my own building reminded me

 

[Nordie]

We have US 95 closed right this moment flying rebar up. These 2am starts are really starting to get old.

 

[rrrr]

We have US 95 closed right this moment flying rebar up. These 2am starts are really starting to get old.

Do you think there's a possibility it's you that's getting old?

 

[Nordie]

Do you think there's a possibility it's you that's getting old?

Technically 37

 

[rrrr]

View attachment 1095311
Technically 37

Good one!

 

[DLC]

Only watched twice.

really sad deal for the worker that lost his life.!

you would think they would have the wood cribbing already in place! That big of a pick and the rigging if something popped it would swing side to side like it did. apparently that guy ( RIP ) didn’t get the update. Also appeared kinda laxadazy dropping the boards and no supervision / direction

good thing it didn’t “ pop “ earlier in the lift….

 

[shock22]

Looks like the rigging failed, the crane operator ultimately has the say so, but it looks like something occurred with the rigging.

Any time I do a critical pick I draw up a pick plan. This includes either steel chokers or nylon straps, as well as shackle sizes, and overall weights. If I'm picking say 10 or 15 thousand pounds my rigging will hold if 3 of the 4 fail, meaning one strap will physically hold the load. Also on any of my projects I do no allow any shackles or rigging that is not American made.

This is an absolute failure...it's unfortunate that someone was not able to go home to their family.

American made only on shackles is an myth , no Chinese, Indian, or other third world crap, but there is rigging from Rope Block or other European manufacturers I would put up against any American manufacturers. I have used these to set rebar cages up to 300,000 pounds

 

[HBCraig]

American made only on shackles is an myth , no Chinese, Indian, or other third world crap, but there is rigging from Rope Block or other European manufacturers I would put up against any American manufacturers. I have used these to set rebar cages up to 300,000 pounds

We use Pfeiffer. Very good and rotation resistant

 

[Nordie]

American made only on shackles is an myth , no Chinese, Indian, or other third world crap, but there is rigging from Rope Block or other European manufacturers I would put up against any American manufacturers. I have used these to set rebar cages up to 300,000 pounds

I believe it, I've rigged some heavy stuff before, but nothing of that stature. Im sure there is some top tier European made stuff no doubt. We just tend to go with Crosby and that's the end of it.