The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued eight citations to Baton Rouge-based Deep South Crane & Rigging Co. for the July 18 tipover of a 2,500-ton-capacity crane that killed four workers at a Houston refinery. Investigators say the machine’s boom was elevated to an unsafe angle, breaking the boom stops and causing it to collapse backward. Six violations are “serious,” and one is a repeat offense for allegedly not training the operator. A spokeswoman for Deep South says the company plans to contest the fines, which total $71,500.


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