A 35-year-old construction worker died when a 2,000-pound steel
pile being raised by a crane fell and struck him. The incident occurred at the construction site
of a new concrete bridge replacing an old timber bridge that spanned a reservoir
in a residential community.
The construction required driving piles (wood or steel columns)
into the soft mud and earth near the lakeshore to provide a solid base for
constructing the bridge.
On the day of the incident, the crew was preparing to drive a
test pile when a rainstorm interrupted work. It rained only a short time, and
the crew returned to work.
Following his usual procedure, the operator tested the crane
before starting to raise the pile. The crane line lost tension as the pile was lifted,
causing a series of events that severed the nylon choker slings holding the pile.
The pile fell, striking the victim who was standing nearby
to position a compressed air hose.
We recommend following these safety guidelines to prevent similar
incidents:
- Employees should stand clear of the pile driver as the pile is raised into the leads