13.06.2007

Lack of Outriggers caused crane accident

An inspector has concluded that a fatal accident at Mittal Steel U-S-A's Minorca Mine near Gilbert was caused by a crane operator's failure to set the cranes outriggers.
See fatal crane accident at Mine
In his official report, due to be released today, Louis County Inspector of Mines Barry Lesar has found that the crane driver, who died at the Minorca mine last week, Donavon Dunblazier, 49, failed to set the outriggers on the 20 tonne crane he was using.

Dunblazier extended the boom over the side of the crane in preparation for lifting two drainage pipes into place, the weight of the boom caused the crane to tip over, trapping him underneath. He died later in hospital.

Lesar said that he could not determine if Dunblazier had been thrown from the cab of the 20 tonne crane or if he had left the cab to check the load.

The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration agency will follow up with its own report in the coming months. Lesar said the focus of his work is to help mining companies prevent future accidents.