Tragedy struck the Houston Ship Channel last week when an industrial worker was caught under a crane.
On Tuesday night, just after 8 p.m., near the Barbours Cut Terminal on Houston’s ship channel, a worker was standing under a crane when it began to move. According to authorities, the worker was trapped under the heavy industrial equipment when it hit him; the crane severed both of his legs.
The industrial worker was immediately rushed to nearby Bayshore hospital in Pasadena, where he died as a result of the fatal workplace incident.
Unfortunately, the potential for an accident at the Houston Ship Channel – one of the busiest seaports in the country – is high. Every day, hundreds of workers are involved in the flurry of activity on the docks, ships, tugs and working with heavy equipment is the norm. Fortunately, ship channel worker injuries do not happen often, but when they do the results are often tragic.
An investigation into last Tuesday’s incident is still underway, but the vice president of the International Longshoreman’s Association said that it appeared to be an accident. According to officials, the worker had worked at the ship channel for over 50 years.
Source: Houston Chronicle, “Worker dies at Houston Ship Channel,” 12/7/11.