04.07.2008

Boom crushes crane operator

A crane operator was crushed yesterday at a wastewater plant under construction in northwest Harris County, near Houston Texas when the boom of his crane dropped on him.

The operator of a fairly ancient 40 tonne American 4260 crawler crane had lowered the boom, which was rigged at around 24 metres, either to inspect it to change the from a headache ball to a hook block. Whiles under the boom it dropped crushing him to death.
An investigation is continuing.

Most American 4260 were built in the mid to late 1970’s although it continued in production well into the 1980’s.