Edited by Rowena Davis
of the The Hazard Information Foundation, Inc.

Appendix A: Litigated Cases

Section 5

Appendix A, Section 5(a)-1

COURT AND CASE NUMBER: Circuit Court, County of Wayne, MI #93-305596

DATE COMPLAINT FILED: February 23, 1993

EQUIPMENT/FACILITY: Crane

HAZARD: Unsafe access, fall from elevation

AVAILABLE HAZARD PREVENTION:

• Ladder or walkway as a construction specification
• Train the construction manager on construction safety planning

SUMMARY OF OCCURRENCE: The injured worker was riding the load line of a crane (holding onto the swivel hook) to enter/exit a work site. The worker slipped and fell, causing permanent damage to the lower half of his body. The employer was a large homebuilding developer.

Appendix A, Section 5(a)-2

COURT AND CASE NUMBER: 17th Judicial Circuit, Broward County, FL #898- 28470-CO

DATE OF OCCURRENCE: June 16, 1987

DATE COMPLAINT FILED: 1988

EQUIPMENT/FACILITY: 70 ton crane

HAZARD: Access/fall from elevation

AVAILABLE HAZARD PREVENTION:

• Seat belt
• Communication between truck driver and crane operator
• Roll down window in crane cab

SUMMARY OF OCCURRENCE: The injured worker sustained severe brain damage when he was thrown from the open cab of the truck mounted crane being driven to the work site with a latticework boom assembled and extended over the rear of the truck carrier. The crane operator remained in the cab so the boom could negotiate the narrow streets. When traveling down the freeway with doors open for ventilation in the hot June weather, the worker fell from the moving crane. A solid window in the door that could not be opened separately all contributed to this injury.

Appendix A, Section 5(a)-3

COURT AND CASE NUMBER: Judicial Court, Duval County FL, #78-8735-CA

DATE OF OCCURRENCE: July 29, 1975

DATE COMPLAINT FILED: 1978

EQUIPMENT/FACILITY: Mobile crane

HAZARD: lack of access/ fall different level

AVAILABLE HAZARD PREVENTION:

• Provide access consistent with SAE recommendations

SUMMARY OF OCCURRENCE: The injured worker fell when attempting to get off crane. Access was oily, and there was no clear route of access consistent with Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standards.