Keystone worker killed in accident (61 year old on job when crane tips over)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.pjstar.com/stories/032108/TRI_BG45S0HR.044.php

Friday, March 21, 2008

By Mike Maciag

Of the Journal Star
BARTONVILLE - A longtime Keystone Steel & Wire Co. employee was killed Thursday morning after he was crushed when a crane he was operating tipped over.

About 8 a.m., Edward R. Schimmelpfennig, 61, was unloading steel from a flatbed truck in a scrap yard at the Bartonville plant when his crane fell on its side, according to Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll. The glass-enclosed cab of the crane was crushed, killing the Morton man almost instantly.

The truck and its driver were not hit when the crane keeled over.

Ingersoll said Schimmelpfennig used the crane to lift two steel plates, likely weighing several thousand pounds. She had not determined Thursday if the weight caused the crane to tip.

Emergency medical personnel pronounced Schimmelpfennig dead at the scene, 7000 SW Adams St. An autopsy is scheduled for today.

Schimmelpfennig, 209 S. Montana Ave., Morton, had lived in central Illinois his entire life. Friends and family members remember him as a man who was a tireless worker.

"He was a blue-collar worker who managed to put three of his kids through college," said his son-in-law Sam Cooper. "He was willing to help just about anyone out."

FULL story at link.

[DS1]

1. poor guy

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. Well, I guess it's time for some of these, just to give people an

idea how bad it can be. See more at www.craneaccidents.com Photos link on left.

[Clear Blue Sky]

3. What's with all these crane accidents recently?

Have these been happening all along or is this a recent thing?

[Omaha Steve]

4. All along

One OSHA inspector said he visits the scenes of DEADLY crane accidents over a dozen times a year. I read it last week. I'll look tomorrow for a link.