Fatal blunder: Boss decided to skip job hazard analysis

Incident summary: A supervisor who failed to conduct a job hazard analysis (JHA) prior to the start of a dangerous task will spend the rest of his life agonizing over the death of one of his crew members.

What happened: Even though his employer mandated a daily JHA, a supervisor disregarded that requirement and gave the OK for his crew to begin transporting a heavy, awkward load using a crane mounted to a barge.

Unfortunately, the man operating the crane wasn’t certified to use the device. In addition, he was provided with a load chart that wasn’t accurate because the crane had been retrofitted to the barge without the approval of the manufacturer. As a result, the crane wasn’t specified to safely handle the large load.

Another crew member was instructed to act as a spotter for the crane operator as the awkward load was being transported. The spotter positioned himself on the ground not far from the lifting zone.

Shortly after the lift started, the crane boom separated from the barge and landed on the spotter. The 49-year-old man was fatally crushed by the boom and the load.

Findings: Safety officials cited the employer for
• failing to ensure the crane operator was certified
• not inspecting the crane every year as required
• using an inaccurate load chart
• retrofitting the crane without consulting the manufacturer
• allowing a damaged boom angle indicator to remain in service

Inspectors also noted that the supervisor failed to conduct the JHA mandated by his employer.

To settle the safety citations, the organization agreed to fork over $17,500.

(From the July 22, 2024, issue of Safety Alert for Supervisors. To start your no-obligation trial subscription to the publication right now, please click here.)