MENTOR, Ohio — An Independence company will pay a nearly $3,000 fine after their crane toppled and smashed nine cars in a grocery store parking lot in January.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Buckeye Crane and Rigging, Inc. with three “serious” violations stemming from the Jan. 30 incident where a crane lifting an air-conditioning unit tipped over and smashed a row of cars outside Marc’s grocery store in the Points East Plaza.
No one was injured, but the incident caused thousands of dollars in damages to nine cars.
OSHA defines “serious” violations as “incidents where there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and that the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard.”
A message left at Buckeye Crane was not immediately returned.
Several Marc’s customers said they were walking to or from the supermarket when the crane fell.
OSHA cited Buckeye Crane for improperly using the stabilizers on the crane, a.  Terex Singer TC-4792The citation says two stabilizers, or support arms, on the driver’s side were not fully extended. This caused the crane to tip over.
OSHA also cited Buckeye for failing to properly train the employee who operated the crane and because the support arms had no markings that stated how much weight the crane and support arms could handle at certain angles.
A fourth citation, called an “other-than-serious” violation, said the company failed to have someone inspect the equipment in the previous 12 months.
OSHA originally issued a $6,400 fine but reduced the fine to $2,960 after an informal hearing with Buckeye Crane.
The agreement between OSHA and Buckeye says the company will pay the fine in four $740 payments between June 19, 2014 and March 19, 2015.
Buckeye also agreed to re-train all of its crane operators on how to correctly use the stabilizers.
