05.04.2007

Two men catapulted to their death

Two men died yesterday after they were catapulted out of the boom lift they were driving on a single home construction job in Transylvania County, near Ashville North Carolina.

The men were employed by the home owner as sub contractors and were installing siding on the house. The two apparently drove the lift, a JLG 800AJ articulated boom, onto a sloped drive causing it to tip over backwards, catapulting them almost 12 metres from the basket before they hit the ground.
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The lift tipped over backwards

Elmer Argueta, 28, of Asheville, died before emergency workers arrived while Cymon Bowser, 42, of Hendersonville, died after being airlifted to Mission Hospital in Ashville.

Neither of the men was wearing a harness, if they had been they may well have survived, according to an Osha official at the scene.

A neighbor said he heard a noise and saw smoke coming from the machines engine, he ran over to the lift and found the men on the ground. There were no witnesses.

Vertikal Comment

This is yet another case where two men have died unecessarily. While the boom tipped over it came to rest on the knuckle of the riser, leaving the basket safely in the air.

If the men had been wearing full body harnesses with short lanyards they are almost certain to have survived.

This accident is a classic example of how a boom lift in a tipping accident, causes a catapult effect but can often remain upright or with the platform in the air.

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