Watching the Watchers

I would have reported this sooner, but your website didn't exist when it happened!

In 1979, I was working as a concrete form carpenter on the "new" water treatment plant at Sewell's Point, in Norfolk, Virginia. At the time of the accident, I was working with a crew on top of a tall (~30') waste treatment tank, making some final preparations to a cilindrical, 3 foot high form just prior to a pour, which was to be accomplished with a flying concrete bucket. The form was situated about 30-35 feet from the top edge of the tank, out of sight of the crane operator on the ground. A signalman was stationed on the top edge of the tank to direct the operator's movement of the load. The concrete was raised, on orders from the ground, apparently without first checking to see if everything was ready, and the area clear.

I had previously noticed that a portion of the reinforcing steel was in contact with the inside of the form, and would have been left exposed if it was not taken care of. I was bent over the form, with my head nearly inside it, busily prying the steel away from the form when I felt the pressure of the fully loaded concrete bucket come down on my back, and pin my body hard against the top of the steel form. It didn't take me long to figure out what was going on, and I immediately began screaming for the signalman to raise the load. Lucky for me, I was able to get his attention, along with a few of the carpenters, who grabbed, steadied, and did their best to get the crushing load off of me.

I was so mad at the carelessness that could have cost me my life, I told the signalman I felt like throwing him over the side, but not being one to use unnecessary violence, I settled for cussing him out instead. I also reported the accident to the job supers, who persuaded me *not* to file a safety complaint, which was my intent. I was "laid off" from the unfinished job a couple of weeks later, for unspecified reasons.

I believe the cause of that particular accident was the fault of the signalman, as well as the supervisor who ordered the bucket off the ground, for not taking proper precautions to see that the area of the pour was clear of personnel before the lift was accomplished. I can tell you that ever since that time, whenever I have found myself in similar situations, I have always made it a point to personally, and closely, "watch" the "watchers".

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