12.08.2009

Crane fatality

A man died yesterday in Chesterfield County, near Richmond Virginia, while dismantling a crane boom.

The fatal accident took the life of Ronald R. Well, 46, a Harbor Dredge & Dock employee, when the crane's boom “collapsed during the dismantling process”.

No indication was given as to what type of crane it was, but Harbor Dredge… mostly works on older crawler cranes which it puts out on barges for dredging and similar work.

Paul Smith, the owner of Harbor Dredge & Dock released the following statement to the local news services:
"This morning Harbor Dredge & Dock experienced the loss of an employee at our storage & maintenance facility on Willis Road. In over 22 years in operation we've never experienced a death in our work family and right now we are grieving beyond imagination. My business family, my wife and I are devastated by today's terrible accident. At this time there is an ongoing investigation by the proper agencies. We are cooperating fully with the investigation in every way, and until all of our questions are answered, I can only express my deepest sorrow."

Update

According to local reports It was Well's first day on the job and he removed the boom section pins in the wrong order causing the boom to drop killing him almost immediately