FEBRUARY 19, 2015
PORTLAND, OREGON
Officials say a 40-year-old worker from Keizer died Tuesday
after a metal beam fell and pierced the cab of the crane he was operating.
The Multnomah County Medical Examiner's Office said
Christopher Pierson died of blunt force head trauma.
The cause of the accident, which occurred near the railroad
tracks at 301 N.E. Second Ave. at about 5:30 p.m., is under investigation by
the Oregon Occupational Safety &
Health Division.
Oregon OHSA spokeswoman said Pierson, who worked for Axis
Crane for three years, was lifting a 35-long steel beam by its end while
building a retaining wall alongside some railway tracks. The beam detached and sliced into the cab,
killing Pierson.
Axis runs an extensive fleet, ranging from boom trucks, to
truck and Rough Terrain cranes up to a 500 tonne Demag All Terrain, along with
a large lattice crawler fleet up 400 tonnes.