10.05.2014

Crane and access fatality

A man died on Wednesday last week in Orlando, after falling around 12 metres from a platform mounted on a boom truck, while helping install a large billboard pole which broke free from the crane holding it.
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The scene shortly after the incident occured

Keith Bramblett, 29, was working from the gravity-hung platform at a height of around 12 metres when the heavy steel billboard pole he was helping install started to sway as the crew were attaching it to its foundation. The pole connection to the crane hook somehow broke away allowing the pole to fall.

On top of this Bramblett’s platform was reportedly strapped to the pole. The falling pole ripped the basket from the boom truck sending him to his death. Bramblett did apparently manage to cut the strap but clearly not soon enough to stop the damage, and he was also thrown from the falling basket.
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The platform was ripped off the boom nose

OSHA arrived on the scene and have carried out an official investigation. Bramblett was employed by Sign Service and Installation, of Marianna, Florida which also owns the boom truck.