scope:

Description of Driving Event:

On February 25, 1992, at approximately 0930 hours, two NASA contractor employees had been instructed by their foreman to proceed to the Locomotive Maintenance Facility, K6-1844, area to pick up four railroad switch plate kits and take them to the Wilson comer area. The two employees proceeded to load the kits, which were in palletized crates, using a National N-45 articulating boom crane mounted on the rear of a 1978 Ford truck. One of the employees operated the crane from the operator position atop the crane mast. This same employee loaded one crate into the forward area of the truck bed and while loading the second crate, the crane broke at the welded interface between the rotating turret and upright mast. Upon failing, the crane boom fell, throwing the operator to the ground. As the operator was thrown to the ground and away from the crane, he/she landed on his/her right leg causing it to break.

When the mishap occurred, the other, uninjured employee ran to the Maintenance Facility Office area and asked personnel inside to call for help. He/she then returned to assist the injured employee. Emergency personnel stabilized the injured employee and transported him/her to the hospital.