A Texas man is suing after being struck by the load of a moving crane while working at BP’s Texas City refinery.
The plaintiff, Francisco Cantu, is suing BP Products North America Inc. and Maxim Crane Works L.P. over the October 2008 workplace accident.
According to the lawsuit, a load being moved by a crane swung around and struck Cantu. Cantu, as a result, became trapped between the bundles and the tarp support.
The suit alleges that the crane accident was caused by improper crane operation, improper lifting techniques, improper rigging and improper supervision.
Cantu states that he was forced to undergo back surgery as a result of the crane accident and needs additional medical care for his head and neck.
Cantu’s crane accident was no isolated incident, according to his lawsuit, which states, “More than five years ago, BP management identified lifting incidents as one of the major safety issues at the BP Texas City plant yet nothing has been done to correct these problems.”
For more on this crane accident lawsuit, see the full article here.
Crane accidents such as the one suffered by Cantu are all too common an occurrence in Texas and at construction sites around the country. OSHA estimates that there are an average of 89 crane-related fatalities in the United States each year.
Of those crane accident fatalities, 32% are caused by a crane operator being struck by a heavy load. An additional 27% occur when the crane comes into contact with a live power line, electrocuting the operator.
Other causes of crane accidents include:
• Crane overturning
• Improper assembly or disassembly
• Lack of adequate training
• Crane boom collapse
• Rigging failures
With nearly 100,000 cranes used in construction each year in the United States, it is not surprising that so many workers fall victim to crane accidents. Because cranes pose such a serious risk, OSHA requires that crane operators be at least 18 years of age, and they must satisfy specific training requirements.
It’s not just operators who are injured by cranes. Individuals working in areas where a crane is being operated are at risk, too. That is why it is critical that proper lines of communication remain open between the crane operator and workers in the vicinity.
If you have been injured in a crane accident or other workplace accident, contact Fears | Nachawati today for free legal assistance. To speak with one of our workplace accident attorneys at no charge, email us or phone us toll free at 1.866.322.6898.
