OSHA recently published a new Safety and Health Information Bulletin (SHIB) to highlight specific workplace hazards when using overhead launching cranes, similar to those involved in a 2004 accident in Toledo, Ohio. In that accident, four ironworkers were killed and four others injured, when one of two cranes built to lift pieces of elevated roadway into place crashed into the median of I-280 over the Maumee River. The job involved the use of an overhead launching gantry crane used during segmental bridge construction.

A copy of the OSHA bulletin is available at http://www.osha.gov/dts/shib/shib050106.html.

This story is one that we have followed closely at industrialliftandhoist.com. Links to several articles on the accident are below.

2005-11-16 – Investigation to Look into 2004 Crane Collapse in Ohio

2004-11-10 – Second Accident at Maumee River Crossing Attributed to Wiring Error

2004-08-04 – OSHA Finds Bridge Contractor at Fault for Crane Accident

2004-02-25 – When the Spotlight Shines