Crane Collapses at Houston Refinery Killing 4 and Injuring 7

On Friday, a large mobile crane collapsed at a Houston oil refinery. Four workers were killed, and seven were injured. The crane, owned by Deep South Crane & Rigging, was of the nation’s largest mobile cranes, at 300 feet tall with a 400-foot boom.

This is the latest of several fatal accidents involving construction cranes. An Associated Press analysis in June found that cities and states have wildly varying rules governing construction cranes, and some have no regulations at all, choosing instead to rely on federal guidelines dating back nearly 40 years that some experts say haven’t kept up with technological advances.

Oregon has state regulations on crane operations including requiring certification for operators of cranes that are five tons or more.

About the Author

Tom D'Amore is the founder of D'Amore Law Group and a trial attorney with over 30 years of experience representing injured people and their families across the West Coast, securing more than $325 million in recoveries. He handles cases involving car accidents, trucking accidents, construction injuries, medical malpractice, and sexual abuse. Licensed in Oregon, Washington, and California, Tom is the only NBTA board-certified truck accident attorney in Oregon. He is a national Board of Governors member, past Executive Committee member, and past Budget and Audit Chair of the American Association for Justice, as well as past President of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and an Eagle member of the Washington State Association for Justice.