MIOSHA: Crane collapse operator error

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The crane accident that injured three people and caused significant damage at the Kent County Jail was caused by operator error, a report from MIOSHA concludes.

Additionally, the subcontractor on site that day, G-2 Inc., was cited for a number of safety violations and faces thousands of dollars in fines.

G-2 Inc. was at the site working under the control of Owen Ames Kimball.

The day the crane collapsed, Feb. 10, 2012, the normal crane operator had the day off. A replacement operator had never before operated the Sumitomo SC1500 with a working luffing jib attached.

The operator that day made an error that caused the main boom to hit the new construction at the jail, damaging the jail and the crane. One worker suffered a fractured shoulder and two jail trustees suffered minor injuries.

MIOSHA began an investigation that day and found the operator employed by G-2 Inc. did not have enough knowledge to operate that crane and not enough training.

They also began a separate investigation into which employers should be cited, for what and for how much. G-2 Inc. was found to be in violation and cited for six violations altogether: five violations for Construction Safety Standards, and a sixth for General Duty violation.

MIOSHA said G-2 Inc. has been inspected 11 times in the past eight years and has been issued 19 serious violations.  

The total proposed penalty for both inspections related to the crane collapse is $28,250.

G-2 Inc. has 15 days to comply or contest these findings. The company had no comment on the report when 24 Hour News 8 called Friday afternoon.

As for the renovations, Kent County County  Undersheriff  Jon Hess said despite the damage caused by the collapse, the mild winter weather helped put the project ahead of schedule. The new portion of the jail will be finished by early November.