SCENARIO # 1: An Unannounced Inspection SCENARIO # 2: Serious Near-Miss Crane Incident Apparently a very large 20-ton overhead crane had some cables snap and has partially collapsed while trying to hoist a large section of the vessel into place for its final welding operation. When you arrive on scene, you see the section wedged overhead between some support beams and walkways. About a dozen hourly workers are scattered about as they leaped to safety after hearing the cables snap. There are many bumps, bruises and scratches on the workers, but they all are able to be treated internally at your nurses office. In this initial assessment, there appears to be no need for or request on the part of the employees to go to any outside medical consultant or hospital emergency room. Almost immediately, you can hear the men complaining that the first attempt to lift the unit did not work, and the production engineer has decided to �
�jury rig some extra cables to lift the unit into place. In addition, one individual said that they were trying to hoist about 28-30 tons, and that was just too much for the old crane. Another offered that the cables themselves had not been changed out in a couple of years, and that was against OSHA regulations. Everyone said that they could hear the unit groan and screech before the cables snapped and the crane partially collapsed. Before you walk off with the supervisors to inspect the damage, one of the workers offers the opinion that this is an imminent danger situation. About 30 minutes later, you are meeting with the engineers and supervisors on one of the overhead platforms continuing your inspection of the damage when a supervisor comes up and tells you that he has heard that an hourly employee has just called OSHA and told them of the situation and that they used the term imminent danger in their conversation.