The incident occurred on 5 July 2012 when the crane collapsed at a bridge construction site on US Route 41 over Lake Butte des Morts near Oshkosh. A truck driver, employed by Spancrete, died when he was struck by the boom of a crane that overturned while bridge girders were being erected with a multiple crane lift. Spancrete was not cited as a result of the investigation.
A Lunda Construction employee who was operating the crane was seriously injured when he was thrown from the cab as the crane fell.
Lunda Construction is being cited for one willful and five serious violations. The willful violation is for failing to comply with crane operator standards by designating a lift director and conducting multiple crane-lift planning meetings. A willful violation is one committed with intentional knowledge or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.
The five serious Lunda Construction violations include allowing a crane to travel with a suspended load; failing to train competent and qualified persons on their respective roles; adequately attach the crane to the barge; use appropriate signaling methods suitable for the site conditions; and meet the requirements of the critical lift plan.
Choice Construction was contracted by Lunda Construction to provide manpower for erecting the girders and is being cited with four serious violations for failing to develop an effective safety program, conduct competent and qualified person training and comply with the provisions of the crane operating standards, including designating a competent lift director and conducting a multiple crane-lift planning meeting.
Proposed penalties for Lunda Construction total US$105,000 (£63,400) and total US$13,220 (£8,000) for Choice Construction. Both companies have 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety & Health Review Commission.
"Employers have a responsibility to take all necessary steps to eliminate hazards from the workplace and to ensure that workers are given the proper training to conduct required tasks, such as operating cranes and performing multiple crane lifts," said Nick Walters, OSHA's regional administrator in Chicago. "It is tragic that one employee lost his life and another was seriously injured during this construction project."
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