OSHA fines operator for fatal accident

In the USA the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has fined crane operator Harrison Hoist US$ 29,400 and charged the firm with six serious safety violations following the fatal tower crane collapse at the University of Texas in Dallas in July.

Thomas Fairbrother and Terry Weaver, who died in the collapse, worked for Harrison Hoist, a crane company based in Grand Prairie. They were atop a crane during a windstorm, trying to remove the top portion of the crane’s mast during gusts of up to 45 mph.

According to the OSHA report, Harrison Hoist did not address the danger that weather could have on the crane, did not make sure workers could safely disassemble the crane and did not stabilize the equipment. The company’s workers were also not trained on safety regulations.