shaggs2riches - 4-1-2011 at 07:27 PM
Began the first work day of the New Year rather slowly today, but it soon turned into a normal work day at the plant. Unfortunately an insulator who
was working on the same oil tank that we were working on had a 60ft Genie manlift flip over when he was in the basket fully extended. He was moving
the lift over a few feet to reach closer to his work, when one of the wheels rolled over a grating covered sump. The weight caused of the lift caused
it to fall through which first threw the man out onto his safety vest; but, that jar on the lift caused it to fall all the way over throwing him into
the ground.
He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. My thoughts go
out to him and his family hoping for a full recovery. I had just left the area to get material so did not see it happen, but the scene still left me
in shock. I work with those machines frequently and makes me realize that no matter how careful I am it could still happen to me, and I should be
grateful every day I come home to my wife and kids in full health. Sorry for the long sad story but I needed to get it off my chest.
Thanks For Reading
shehatesmyhobbies - 4-1-2011 at 07:46 PM
Real sorry to hear that story, my thoughts go out to him, his family, and his coworkers. Reminds me of my Grandfathers fall about 25 yrs ago. He was
a steel framer, working on high rises in our local city. He was tossed out of a bucket by the ground controller, he was 45 feet in the air. It took a
long time for him to get out of the hospital, he was paralyzed in his right leg and had some problems for the rest of his life, but he became an
inventor for the handicap getting several patents to help the handicapped work on vehicles and other things around the house. Not to make light of
your coworkers situation, but just to let you know others have survived such a tragedy like this. I only hope the best for him and his family. It will
be a long road to recovery, but he can survive!
Kamikuza - 4-1-2011 at 07:46 PM
Oh dear 
best wishes to the man & his family.
On the subject of falls ...
Reminds of something that happened when I was a kid ... we were driving along a road near our house that was a gentle bend to the left - drive on the
left in NZ. There was a little kid waiting to cross and he looked left at the noise of a big truck coming from the other way then stepped off the curb
without looking right - and bounced off the side of our car.
My mother, who was driving, stopped of course and went to the house the boy had run into screaming but as luck would have it, he was screaming out of
the shock rather than injury - no injuries. The mother was nice about it all ...
She also told us that her father, who worked on the HT powerlines, had been up the pylon working when he got a shock that stopped his heart. He fell
off the pylon and when he hit the ground, the impact restarted his heart ...
... it's a funny old world :o
WELDNGOD - 4-1-2011 at 08:26 PM
I'm sorry to hear that ,at least he had his harness on. No man or woman should have to get hurt or die trying to make a living. Hope he does well .
However,he did violate one of the rules. NEVER MOVE A MANLIFT WHILE EXTENDED. I'm guilty of it too,but this is why it is a rule. Don't follow his
example,bring it down then move it and go back up.
InvertedForce - 4-1-2011 at 08:32 PM
Thats surprising, I know some of the lifts I've used either move snail slow or not at all unless you are pretty close to fully retracted. What a
shame. Praying for his recovery and his family.
shaggs2riches - 4-1-2011 at 08:58 PM
Thanks guys!!! Yeah every time I take the course we are reminded to never move when boomed out. I also have been guilty of it in the past and never
thought of it till now. Usually we are required a spotter as well when using them, but that rule has relaxed lately and obviously should never have
been. I also can't figure out why he was where he was, because the area he was in beside the tank would not have ever fit there as he had to drive
sideways on a berm to get there, also there was no need to drive there cause his lift was big enough to reach from the flat level road a lot easier
than where he was. Maybe inexperience or just plain poor judgment; but, either way no one should have to through that. I'm quite sure that there will
be a full investigation and better safety standards put into place to avoid it again. Again though we shouldn't have to learn this way.
ragden - 5-1-2011 at 05:28 AM
Unfortunately some people have to learn things the hard way. Generally speaking, the human race remembers lessons learned the hard way better than any
other way..
I hope your co-worker has a speedy recovery. Best wishes.
lives2fly - 5-1-2011 at 07:58 AM
oh man thats bad. I thought I was having a bad day back at work after the holidays!
Hope you feel better soon and your workmate recovers.
revpaul - 5-1-2011 at 10:04 AM
hopefully the fella comes out OK.
i think about that thing every time i suited up for some 'fun' in a lift.
i've run a few aerial work platforms and the worst 'fun' was running a 120 footer fully extended on a dirt/clay uneven surface. i was at controls... i
did not even have a ticket for a lift that big but the "ticketed guy" Mr. Bluff did not want to run it for some strange reason. it was windier than
heck too. we had to get a shieve at the top of a crane sorted out.
i was really considering why some people do what they do for a living. i haven't run a big lift in some time but little scissors once in while still.
i don't recall any training strictly advising lowering the bucket before moving. i'm def not argueing the rational though. i just know that the
vehicle will only move at a snail's pace when bucket is extended. iirc the more boom extended the slower the vehicle travels. i haven't taken any
related training for more than 5 years now and things/attitudes/safety regs/standards change.
shaggs2riches - 5-1-2011 at 12:52 PM
Went to work this morning and waited till 9:30 waiting for answers on what was going on on site. The gentleman was air lifted to the city with a
broken sternum,broken pelvis,fractured elbow, and collapsed lungs. Word was that he was going into surgery early today and we would be informed more
when more was found out. They did say that considering the circumstances it could have been even worse with head trauma or he could have gotten pinned
under the basket as he fell. Getting thrown away left him in very critical state but also might have saved his life. The area in the plant where we
were working is crawling with OH&S Workers investigating the incident, which was no surprise to us. With the whole plant permitting situation
under review all contractors were shut down for the day and possibly the rest of the week. Not to make light of the situation but its -1c outside and
20-30km/h winds for both today and tomorrow so I'm going kiting in the most beautiful snow kiting weather I can get.
Txshooter38 - 5-1-2011 at 07:50 PM
A speedy recovery to your co-worker and we will be praying for him. My boss hit a deer on the way to work today on his bicycle. He killed the deer
(I am not even sure how that is possible) and ended up with some broken ribs and helmet. (Thank God for the helmet).
I am currently in the middle of Aron Ralston's book (the guy the cut his arm off in the canyon) and let me say that some of the little decisions we
make can have big outcomes. It is important to evaluate the risks that we take very thoroughly.
You all be careful out there!!!! You all are as good as family!!!
WELDNGOD - 5-1-2011 at 08:01 PM
Hey Curtis, I heard they are makin a movie about him. Can't wait to see it.
erratic winds - 5-1-2011 at 08:55 PM
The Aaron Ralson movie is finished and out, It's "127 hours of hell", James Franco plays Ralson's character.
Best wishes for this fellas recovery. Be safe in every workplace.