Inspection Detail

Inspection: 311770572 - Miller & Long Concrete Construction Company

Inspection Information - Office: Baltimore Area Office

Investigation Summary

On February 25, 2008, Employee #1, with Miller & Long Concrete Construction Company, was part of a crew pouring concrete at a new building construction site. A tower crane was making the first concrete bucket pick of the morning. The crane operator was using visual hand signals from signalmen both at the street level and lower deck level. The street level signalman signaled the crane operator that the load was ready for lift. His duties were to observe the concrete bucket until it was raised approximately 20 ft, then the load became the crane operator's responsibility until the bucket nears the deck level, at which time the deck signalman would guide the crane operator to the pour location. A fully loaded 3 yard concrete bucket weighed approximately 14,000 lbs. Immediately after the concrete bucket cleared the street, the street level signalman went around to the side of the concrete truck to sign the driver's paperwork. The crane operator was trawling the loaded concrete bucket towards the excavation when the bucket struck the top of a scaffold that was located immediately adjacent to the concrete loading area. The scaffold collapsed and struck Employee #1, who was located on the lower level. He died later that day. A flagman on the street level saw the concrete bucket strike the scaffold and shouted a warning to the workers in the excavation. All other workers were able to avoid the scaffold, which was not in use at the time of the accident. It was secured in this temporary location by tie wire. Interviews with the signalmen, the superintendent, the crane operator, and site safety personnel revealed flaws in the procedures being used. In particular, the signalman did not track the suspended load until it was clear of any possible obstructions such as the scaffold.

Keywords: HEAD, SIGNALMAN, COLLAPSE, CONCRETE BUCKET, STRUCK BY, CONCUSSION, COMMUNICATION, CRANE, INATTENTION, SCAFFOLD