A paper mill worker in Ohio died after the boom of a crane collapsed on him.

The accident occurred at Appleton Papers in West Carrolton, Ohio. The five-ton crane fell on 39-year-old William Wilson, who sustained serious injuries. There is still no information about how the boom fell, but it appears Wilson took the brunt of the impact, and was pinned to the floor. He was removed from beneath the machinery in under ten minutes, but had suffered excessive blood loss from his injuries. He was airlifted to the hospital, where he later died. Wilson was an employee of Crane Pro Services.

According to fire department officials, Appleton Paper is closed this week for maintenance on equipment. Wilson had apparently been performing maintenance activities when the accident occurred. Officials of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have visited the scene of the accident.

Crane Accidents

According to OSHA, every year there are an average of 69 deaths relating to crane accidents. The majority of these - 32 percent - occur when crane operators are struck by heavy loads, while 27 percent occur due to electrocution.  The remaining accidents occur as a result of boom or cable failure, tipping over of the crane, and fall accidents.

Crane boom collapses occur when the boom is extended beyond manufacturer's specifications. When this happens, it impacts the crane's ability to handle the load, and places severe strain on the components of the crane.  The crane's hydraulic and mechanical components can only take so much pressure before they buckle.

Crane boom collapses make up about 8 percent of all crane accidents. A crane boom collapse can cause serious injuries to workers standing nearby. Supervisors must make sure pressure is kept within acceptable and specified limits to avoid such unfortunate accidents.

To avoid crane accidents, OSHA mandates:

• Proper training of crane operators
• Proper rigging of cranes as well as loads
• Facilitation of communication between supervisors, operators, and any workers who may be involved in operating the crane
• Ensuring that the cranes and related equipment are properly maintained
• Strictly observing the load capacity of the crane
• Careful supervision of assembly and disassembly procedures
• Providing stable ground conditions

The industrial injury lawyers at Arnold & Itkin LLP represent victims of crane accidents, as well as constriction accidents, refinery explosions, toxic chemical exposures, and other industrial accidents.