There was a deadly accident involving a crane at the Continental Tire Plant in Norfolk, Nebraska on October 30, 2021. A worker at the plant was on a scissor lift, when a crane struck the lift causing it to topple over. The worker sustained severe injuries and was transported to a local hospital for emergency medical care. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. The victim has been identified as Keith Polenske. The deadly accident is currently being investigated. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those impacted by this incident.
There have been a number of recent incidents involving cranes. There was an accident involving a crane at the Optimus Steel Mill in Rose City, Texas on October 5, 2021. There was a crane collapse in Houston, Texas on September 27, 2021. There was a crane collapse in Hartford, Wisconsin on September 11, 2021. There was a crane accident in Iron County, Michigan on August 31, 2021. There was a crane collapse in Charleston, South Carolina on August 23, 2021.
Companies, supervisors, and workers may not be fully aware of the hazards of operating cranes. As a result, they may not have implemented proper policies and procedures to minimize risks. One mechanism to safely evaluate and prepare for risks is through the use of a Job Safety Analysis (“JSA”) or Risk Assessment, which is standard in the industry. When this does not occur, it can result in catastrophic personal injury or death. In a JSA, each step of the job is examined to identify potential hazards and to recommend the safest way to perform the work in order to minimize those risks. According to OSHA:
A job hazard analysis is a technique that focuses on job tasks as a way to identify hazards before they occur. It focuses on the relationship between the worker, the task, the tools, and the work environment. Ideally, after you identify uncontrolled hazards, you will take steps to eliminate or reduce them to an acceptable risk level.
Our experienced lawyers have handled personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits of all kinds and have the skills needed to represent the families of loved ones who have lost their lives or those who have been seriously injured as a result of a crane accident. The experienced personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Spagnoletti Law Firm can help you understand your rights if you or a loved one was a victim of an accident involving a crane.
Our lawyers have represented numerous workers who have sustained serious and catastrophic injuries on a job site as a result of the negligence of another party. Our experienced attorneys have previously been involved in numerous lawsuits involving cranes. There are strict and short time limits on making claims, so please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 or to learn more about your legal rights.