" A worker crushed by a piece in a (European) company dies"

A few years ago an aluminium plant asked the editors of the Aluminium Plant Safety Blog to speak to their workers about safety under the hook (crane). The aluminium company’s impetus for visit was an incident when a rolling ingot fell from an overhead crane. Thankfully no one was hurt. As we researched the issue of working under cranes we were amazed on how many incidents there actually are. In 2019 alone we posted several fatalities involving loads falling from overhead cranes. Here is a recent incident emphasizing this hazard:

A worker from (nearby town) died one afternoon during the first week in February 2020 an accident at the company in Europe. The local authorities received notice of the accident at 3.22 pm and pertinent government safety organization is investigating the facts. The company, specialized in the construction of industrial furnaces and with more than (50+) years of history, manufactured the largest furnace in the world to produce aluminum.

The incident has been recorded while the operator was developing his workday, when a piece has fallen on him, which has caused his death.

A medicalized ambulance has moved to the company, dedicated to the manufacture of industrial furnaces, but the doctor has only been able to confirm the death. It is a male about 40 years old. (Government safety organization) technicians remain in place to try to clarify the causes of the incident.

We offer our sincere prayers to the deceased worker’s family, friends, and coworkers. We make the assumption that the piece that had fallen on him was either being held by a crane or being moved by a crane. We will reach out to the company for further information. We will post updates as they become available.

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