Tuesday, June 30, 2015

WORKER KILLED AFTER HE WAS ELECTROCUTED AND FELL OFF A SKYTRACK LIFT AS HE WAS POWER WASHING A SILO ROOF AT KENT MILLING IN MICHIGAN









Police identify man, 30, killed in fall from Lowell mill's silo

June 30, 2015

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LOWELL, MI 

 Police have identified Jared Looyenga as the man killed in a work-related incident Saturday, June 27, at Kent Milling. 

Looyenga, 30, had been power washing a silo roof, working from a "skytrack" lift. At some point the lift touched a power line and its wheels caught fire. 

Looyenga was electrocuted and made it on to a nearby silo, but then fell about 60 feet to the ground, according to information provided by MIOSHA, a state investigating agency looking into the accident.

Looyenga's death is the 12th this year in Michigan related to work activities. He was employed with Bosveld, Inc. construction of Grand Rapids, MI.

A 2002 graduate of Covenant Christian High School, Looyenga was a married father of three young boys. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Thursday, July 2, at Hudsonville Protestant Reformed Church. Visitation will be 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. at First Protestant Reformed Church of Holland.

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LOWELL, MI -- A man working on a "skytrack' lift at a Lowell mill died after the machine touched a power line and he apparently fell onto a nearby silo, then onto the ground.

The man was power washing a silo roof at King Milling, 115 S. Broadway St., Lowell police said.

He was not employed by the mill, but a contractor, Bosveld, Inc. construction.

The incident happened shortly after 11 a.m. in downtown Lowell, just off West Main Street.

The lift touched a power line, causing the machine's tires to catch fire.

Lowell police Detective Gordy Lauren said he was told the man was electrocuted and fell directly from the lift to the ground.

But a witness, Jeff Altoft, said he witnessed the man on the lower edge of the pitched silo roof before he fell. Radio traffic between firefighters also indicated the victim was on top of the silo for a period.

A ladder truck from East Grand Rapids was en route to possibly reach the victim.

"If he could have just held on for a little longer," Altoft said.

Firefighters had to wait for workers with Lowell Light & Power to cut power to the lines before they could extinguish the fire.

Power to a segment of downtown Lowell was shut down for several hours after the incident.

The man's name was not released, but police confirmed he worked for Bosveld Inc. of Grand Rapids.

About three hours after the accident, authorities were trying to figure out a strategy for moving the lift because the engine was ruined.

Youngs Environmental Cleanup also was on the scene, apparently because of a possible fuel spill from the lift.

 Steel fabrication is one of the services offered by Bosveld, Inc.