29.06.2005

Another avoidable boom death

William McKoin (44) from Oak Forest, Chicago, died after being catapulted into the air from a self -propelled boom lift while working on a project at Barrington High School on the North side of Chicago..

The accident occurred at 12:30 last Thursday June 23rd, he was pronounced dead at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge at about 2 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Occupational Health and Safety Administration Assistant Area Director John Maronic said there were “definitely violations” involved in McKoin’s death and that an investigation was ongoing.

McKoin and about a half-dozen other workers were removing siding and replacing a roof on the high school’s gym. McKoin was in the process of putting a tarpaulin up around the building to protect it, as he moved the lift while around seven metres up, one of the wheels apparently dropped off the pavement (sidewalk) and into the street, as is usual in such an incident the operator was catapulted clear of the basket, some reports then said that the machine then turned over onto its side..

The emergency services arrived on the scene but it was 20 minutes before a helicopter arrived to take him to the hospital.
The USA health and safety body, OSHA is conducting an investigation into the accident and violations regarding this incident by McKoin’s employer, Midwest Sheet Metal, based in Johnsburg.

The citations that the company could face depends on several factors, including what training McKoin had received to use the machine. The wearing of harnesses on boom lifts is virtually mandatory in the USA and as a result they are widely used.

Vertikal Comment

This unfortunate incident is yet one more that demonstrates the need to wear harnesses when using boom lifts. Sadly in many parts of Europe harnesses are not seen as a necessary requirement. In the UK we are more concerned that the operator has a bright yellow jacket, safety boots and a hard hat than a harness.
IPAF has published a guidance on the issue, which is supported by the HSE and CPA and strongly recommends the use of harnesses with short lanyards whenever using any type of boom lift. click here to see details: