24.06.2014

Multiple fatalities in man-basket failure

Seven men were killed and one seriously injured at a platform construction yard in Mexico when a man-basket suspended from a large crawler crane dropped around 40 metres to the ground.

The men were removing scaffolding from the Ayatsil-C platform being built at the Matarredonda fabrication yard in Veracruz state for state-owned oil producer Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) by a joint venture between contractors Empresas ICA and Flour.

According to Fluor, six of the deceased were employed by ICA-Fluor and one by crane rental company ESE ASA. While the company state that it does not yet know the cause of the incident and that an investigation is ongoing. We understand that a failed cable looks like having played a major role in the incident, which occurred on June 11th.