Ballard Contractors Inc.
Outcome
A 65-year-old worker at Ballard Contractors Inc. was fatally struck when an 8,575-pound shipping container fell in 2024 after a rigging chain snapped during placement at the Moundville, Alabama worksite; OSHA cited eight violations for rigging equipment deficiencies and working beneath moving loads; case resolved through informal settlement.
Details
Ballard Contractors Inc. — 65-Year-Old Killed by Falling 4-Ton Container, Chain Snap (2024)
Outcome: A 65-year-old Ballard Contractors Inc. employee was fatally struck when a rigging chain snapped during placement of an 8,575-pound shipping container at a Moundville, Alabama worksite; OSHA cited eight violations for rigging deficiencies, unmarked slings, working beneath suspended loads, and inadequate fall protection; case resolved through informal settlement.
At a Ballard Contractors Inc. worksite near Moundville, Alabama in 2024, workers were placing an 8,575-pound shipping container using steel chain rigging when one of the rigging chains snapped. The container fell onto a 65-year-old employee, who died from the resulting injuries.
OSHA's investigation found the rigging chains lacked proper load rating markings, meaning no one could verify the chains were rated for the weight being lifted. The chains had not undergone required periodic inspection to identify wear, cracks, or defects. A worker had been allowed to work beneath the moving suspended load — a prohibited practice under OSHA's rigging standards. Workers were also exposed to fall hazards during the rigging operations without adequate fall protection at heights of approximately 11 feet. OSHA cited eight violations covering these deficiencies. The case was resolved through an informal settlement agreement with the company.
Primary Source: Department of Labor finds Alabama concrete contractor failed to protect 65-year-old employee fatally struck by 4-ton container near Tuscaloosa
How Crucible Prevents This
Rigging operations involving steel chain slings require load rating verification against the actual load being lifted before any lift is authorized. A Crucible pre-lift checklist requiring documented sling load rating confirmation, inspection completion for each sling component, and exclusion zone establishment before any suspended load operations are cleared would have prevented the unauthorized positioning of the worker beneath the 8,575-pound container being swung into position.
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