Jeremy Coburn, the operator of a crane that tipped over at the Port of Port Townsend Dec. 16, is recuperating at home, according to his employers at Craftsmen United Inc.
Coburn was using the …
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A four-wheeled, 50-foot crane owned by Craftsmen United Inc. tipped over Dec. 16 while being used to lift a mast off a steel commercial vessel near the business at the Port of Port Townsend. East Jefferson Fire Rescue crews extricated the crane operator, Jeremy Coburn, who is recuperating at home after medical treatment, said a Craftsmen United employee Dec. 19. Photo by Kirk Boxleitner
The accident is being investigated by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. Photo by Bill Beezley, East Jefferson Fire Rescue
Jeremy Coburn, the operator of a crane that tipped over at the Port of Port Townsend Dec. 16, is recuperating at home, according to his employers at Craftsmen United Inc.
Coburn was using the company’s four-wheeled, 50-foot mobile crane to lift a steel mast from the commercial fishing vessel Marilyn J. White in an open area by Craftsmen United, near the intersection of 10th and Boat streets. At about 9:35 a.m. last Friday, the crane tipped to its right and toppled.
Coburn, who was in the crane’s cab, was reportedly extricated at 9:44 a.m. He was then transported by aid vehicle to Jefferson County International Airport, where Airlift Northwest took him to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Bill Beezley, East Jefferson Fire Rescue (EJFR) public information officer.
The crane’s lower boom section landed atop an aluminum roof section that had apparently been previously removed from the fishing boat.
The accident is being investigated by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I).
On Saturday, a truck-mounted crane was used to right the crane.
Sam Gibboney, Port of Port Townsend executive director, said the port coordinated with EJFR immediately following the accident to secure the scene, and continues to provide backup security to L&I once its inspectors arrived.
“We have no idea as to the timetable for that inspection,” Gibboney said Dec. 16. “We rely on state agencies to provide oversight of safety protocols.”
Gibboney noted that this was not a port operation, but one conducted by a private business, with which L&I would deal directly if corrective actions were required. Nonetheless, she stipulated that meeting certifications and safety protocols are part of businesses’ port tenancy.
“And of course, our thoughts are with the injured employee and his coworkers at Craftsmen United,” Gibboney said.
On Tuesday, port officials confirmed that the investigation is still ongoing.
Craftsmen United executives did not return Leader calls seeking further information.
