Jra Construction: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Dec 23, 2003: Employee is injured during crane failure

On December 23, 2003, Employee #1 was working as contracted maintenance craftsma n performing a scheduled wash-up of a Tri-Nip paper press. Employee #1 secured t he blind drill roll to the underside of the press roll loading arm. The roll, we ighing 23,000 lbs, was suspended from a 15-ton Acco Louden bridge crane, using a 0.625-inch wire rope that was attached to a 20.50-foot spanner bar. The spanner bar weighed 2,000 lbs and supported each end of the blind drill roll. With the roll partially secured, the shank ball end of the 0.625-inch wire rope failed an d the spanner bar fell forward. Employee #1 attempted to avoid the spanner bar b y jumping backwards. He fell to the platform below injuring his back. Employee # 1 was hospitalized at Saint Francis Hospital in Lynwood, where he was treated fo r a fracture to his lower vertebrae and a head laceration. He was released seven days later. A detailed investigation determined that despite the crane having b een inspected by CranePro less than two months before and a new cable installed, the fractured shank ball was undersized, measuring 16 inches less in diameter t han required. Additionally, the wire of the failed shank did not run all the way through the shank ball assembly. .