04.02.2015

Harness saves life in boom overturn

A boom overturned in Carteret, New Jersey (to the south of Newark near Staten Island) yesterday leaving the operator dangling from his harness.

The boom is thought to have been working on a telephone mast when it overturned in the snow, throwing the man from the basket. He was wearing a harness though and was left dangling around six metres above the ground.

After he was recovered by the emergency services he was taken to hospital suffering from head and leg injuries, possibly inflicted when the boom struck the mast as it went over. He was conscious though and the use of the harness and lanyard almost certainly saved his life.
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The scene after the operator was rescued

While we do not know what caused the machine to overturn, the fact that it was being used in fairly deep snow which hides the ground conditions - including slopes and voids - is possibly a clue.