12.03.2013

Crane mechanic fatality

A crane mechanic died yesterday, while working on a container crane at the Pierce County Terminal in the port of Tacoma Washington.

The man, 46, was apparently working on top of the crane carrying out a routine inspection of the wire ropes, he was working alongside a colleague, when something went wrong.

The port was immediately shut down for the rest of the day. The Washington state Department of Labor and Industries is investigating the incident alongside the port, the man's employer and the union - Longshore Local 23.