BURLINGTON NORTHERN RAILROAD

Employee killed when crushed between crane and railcar

Late morning on January 17, 1989, Employee #1 was engaged in a railroad salvage operation. A derailed flat car was positioned for lifting with two side boom Cat erpillars. Employee #1 entered approximately 2 feet of clear space between the d erailed flat car and a Caterpillar. He engaged a #503 hook on the sill of the de railed flat car and, with hand signals, directed the slack to be taken out of th e boom line attached to the #503 hook. When the operator removed the slack from the line, the derailed flat car moved toward the Caterpillar, effectively closin g the clear space and crushing Employee #1. He died of internal abdominal injuri es.