Port Worker Dies in Bay Area Crane Accident

According to California state investigators, a maintenance issue led to a crane accident that recently crushed and killed a 51-year-old worker in a Bay Area.

2012-11-30

November 30, 2012 (Press-News.org) According to California state investigators, a maintenance issue led to a crane accident that crushed and killed a 51-year-old worker in a Bay Area port last month.

NBC Bay Area News reported that a spokesman for California's Division of Occupational Safety and Heath (Cal-OSHA), Peter Melton, said that two workers were attempting to fix a maintenance problem regarding the crane's trolley wheels when the crane accident took place. Specifically, the workers were attempting to adjust the trolley wheels so that all four wheels were on the rails when one of the workers was crushed by the crane.

A longshoreman told NBC Bay Area News that the port worker - who was a member of the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers - was working about 250 feet up on the crane when the trolley moved and pinned the worker between the crane and the cable.

Port officials stated the worker sustained serious head and chest injuries and later died at Summit Medical Center in Oakland.

Tragically, the recent fatal work accident is the second serious accident at this port in the last five years, according to Cal-OSHA documents. Last year, another worker was hit by a container lift and subsequently lost both legs.

California Workplace Accidents

Unfortunately for California workers who spend their workdays around heavy equipment or on construction sites, their days are fraught with danger - as this most recent crane accident sadly illustrates.

When surrounded by potentially dangerous equipment, just a simple slip of the hand on an equipment control can launch thousands of pounds of metal towards unsuspecting workers, causing deadly construction accidents in the process. However, accidents involving heavy equipment are only one possible danger associated with these types of workplaces. For example, other work related accidents include:
- Ladder and scaffolding accidents
- Accidents involving fires or explosions
- Accidents involving a fall from heights
- Accidents involving falling debris

California workers injured on the job may have several options available to them. First, an injured worker may be entitled to workers' compensation. Second, if someone other than their employer or coworkers was responsible for the accident - such as a delivery driver or certain subcontractors - an injured worker may be able to seek damages through a third party claim.

Obviously, the remedies available depend heavily on the circumstances of the workplace accident. This means that it is very important to contact an experienced workplace injury attorney as soon as possible if you have been injured on the job in order to determine what remedies may be available to you.

Article provided by Galine, Frye & Fitting
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Port Worker Dies in Bay Area Crane Accident

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