Worker struck by crane dies

An International Paper wood yard employee was killed Monday morning when he was struck by a timber loading crane, Richmond County Coroner Grover Tuten said in a news release Monday.

Bill Drake, 66, was struck by the metal cage of the crane while attempting to clear wood debris along train tracks about 7:30 a.m. at the plant in the 4200 block of Mike Padgett Highway, according to the release.

Mr. Drake was pronounced dead at the scene about 7:45 a.m. Results from an autopsy will be available today, Mr. Tuten said.

The crane has both audio and visual warning devices, which were working at the time.

Mr. Drake was an operator of the crane, but Monday he was assigned to clear the track area, said Jessica Savage, the communications manager of the company. He had been an employee of the paper mill for 43 years.

"It's a huge loss," Ms. Savage said. "We're very shocked and saddened by this event."

The accident is under investigation by the U.S. Occupational Health & Safety Administration, an arm of the U.S. Labor Department that focuses on workplace safety and related issues.

OSHA spokesman Mike Wald of the agency's Region 4 office in Atlanta said the company reported the accident to federal authorities Monday morning.

Although Mr. Wald did not have any additional details on the accident, he said an officer from the agency's Compliance, Safety months; the results become public only upon completion.

According to a searchable online OSHA database, the plant has a good safety record with no reported serious accidents during the past five years.

Since 2004, the plant has been inspected twice in response to complaints, the records show. One inspection in 2005 yielded fines totaling $4,250 -- including a $500 fine for a minor violation and a $5,000 fine for a "serious" violation involving "guarding floor and wall openings." It was later settled for $3,750.

A 2008 inspection yielded no fines or violations.

Reach Stephanie Toone and Rob Pavey at (706) 823-3650.