College student dies in scissor lift accident
- Thread starterderekleffew
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I saw this on Sports Center today. They said that the winds were 50 MPH+ and the lift was only rated for use in winds up to 25 MPH. Also before the crash, Sullivan apparently Tweeted, "this is terrifying".
Can't wait to see how big the lawsuit settlement is.
Can't wait to see how big the lawsuit settlement is.
The practice of using scissor lifts to film practices is extremely common, even at some high schools. Hopefully this will cause some stronger rules when it can and can not be used. It just sucks that this kid had to die while doing a job that probably paid minimum wage in a work study situation.
This is a prime example of letting people, both instructors and students, using equipment that they probably not properly trained on. A certified operator would have better sense to take a lift up in that kind of wind.
I just asked my seventeen yr old son if it wise or allowed and he said absolutely not. This is a tragic and needless accident.
I just asked my seventeen yr old son if it wise or allowed and he said absolutely not. This is a tragic and needless accident.
The worst part was the student was too scared (or unable) to come down on his own. Each of us needs to learn our limits to keep ourselves and others safe. This man lift could have potentially injured or killed others as it came crashing down. Too many times technicians take unnecessary risks because "the show must go on", or in this case practice. So we come down to, what is the cost of a human life? When we look back at some recent tragedies in theaters where riggers/electricians have fallen to their death, the end result has been only thousands of dollars. If he had refused to go up, or had come down when he first tweeted about his concerns, he probably would have been written up or fired. So where do you draw the line about when you are concerned for your life versus being afraid of losing employment? I know where I stand.
My problem is if you are that concerned, come down. If he was certified he would know the limitations of the equipment, if he wasn't then why was he sent up in the lift? Were any of the instructors certified, if so then they should know not to send him up because he wasn't certified and it was unsafe. If they weren't cartified and the student wasn't then why did they have access to the equipment at all.
I am not picking or pointing fingers but this was a completely pointless and needless accident. All that was needed was a little common sense and proper training. It is accidents like this that makes for unreasonable requirements on guys that actually do get training and apply it.
I am not picking or pointing fingers but this was a completely pointless and needless accident. All that was needed was a little common sense and proper training. It is accidents like this that makes for unreasonable requirements on guys that actually do get training and apply it.
Part of it is that sports is money and schools survive on football. ND being no exception. Sending the inexperienced and untrained into a situation like that is tragic, maybe even criminal. My guess is that no one who had knowledge that they were using lifts had any training on them. Let's face it, at their most basic, a lift is pretty simple to operate. Up, down, steer, go, stop. Basic operation isn't rocket science. Until you learn what you don't know. I use lifts occasionally, but never have used one outdoors. Quite frankly, wind never occurred to me but with the gusts we've had in the midwest lately, I probably would have had second thoughts about being that high in those conditions.
As a trainer of equipment, the operation of scissor lifts, man lifts and forks are not difficult. Most anybody can get in one and get from point A to point B, doing it safely is a whole other story. I learned to drive a forklift at fourteen and ran them for years. I ran everything from little ones in warehouses to Gradalls lifting materials multiple stories in the air. After probably 15 years I was told I had to certify, I thought it was stupid, I knew what I was doing. I learned a ton about the counter balance ratios and other really usefull things. I have since certified multiple times on many types of forks and lifts. Refresher courses are a good thing.
The lift in use here is used every day on every college with a football team. Even marching bands use either a scissor or scaffold. You never hear about problems until somebody does something in a unknown situation and aren't trained to handle it. My boss doesn't understand why I insist on a ground guy whenever I am using our manlift. I broke down the other day and had to be assisted by my ground guy. I imediately called my boss and showed him the situation and why it was important to have the backup guy there.
I'm not trying to be a jerk or insensitive to the student's death. I am simply trying to say with proper training he would have known how to handle the situation he was in.
The lift in use here is used every day on every college with a football team. Even marching bands use either a scissor or scaffold. You never hear about problems until somebody does something in a unknown situation and aren't trained to handle it. My boss doesn't understand why I insist on a ground guy whenever I am using our manlift. I broke down the other day and had to be assisted by my ground guy. I imediately called my boss and showed him the situation and why it was important to have the backup guy there.
I'm not trying to be a jerk or insensitive to the student's death. I am simply trying to say with proper training he would have known how to handle the situation he was in.
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A follow-up from the Chicago Tribune Notre Dame President says school responsible for football videographer's death - chicagotribune.com
Sony
Active Member
At least they are owning up to it...too many people/corporations try to pass blame onto others to avoid the consequences of their actions I'm glad the Notre Dame administration is taking responsibility for this easily avoidable yet tragic accident. If it's true he was sent up in the lift by a faculty member and not of his own accord then it is definitely the university at fault.
Further Followup.
IOSHA (Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has announced a $77,500 fine levied against Notre Dame, finding Notre Dame at fault for the student's death.
Notre Dame at fault in Sullivan death - College Football News | FOX Sports on MSN
IOSHA (Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has announced a $77,500 fine levied against Notre Dame, finding Notre Dame at fault for the student's death.
Notre Dame at fault in Sullivan death - College Football News | FOX Sports on MSN
I read this first in the Tribune, but couldn't find a link. ND has banned the use of these lifts for filming athletic practices. Notre Dame bans use of hydraulic lifts to film football practices after accident :: The Republic
UPDATE: Notre Dame settles for $42,000.
That's All!?
That's the fine, not settlement to the family (which I don't think there is one, other than the memorial fund). The school also has to create an awareness program for other schools in the dangers of mobile lifts.
That's a goldmine compared to what happened to a stagehand in Florida. He fell 25' from a catwalk lacking proper safety railings, and the company was only fined $3,675.
Let's also not forget about death of a stagehand in Las Vegas, where the casino only paid out $19,800 and the stage company just $4,000.
It's amazing how much value a life has when it's naturally near the brink of death but how little it has when it's ended prematurely and unnecessarily.
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