I am very sorry to hear of this needless accident that took a young man’s life at Nichols Brothers Boat Builders.

I am a crane expert that trains crane operators and maintenance personnel in the proper use of cranes and all rigging equipment.

I find that eyebolts are routinely involved in accidents due to a lack of proper equipment and a lack of proper training. There are many factors that reduce the useable capacity of forged eyebolts. Many companies unknowing use eyebolts that are not to be used for overhead lifting and are not an approved lifting device.

The eyebolt manufacturers have rules for using their eyebolts, but, these rules even if known to the user can not be followed.

I highly recommend that all eyebolts be banned for overhead lifting. Only specialty swiveling hoist rings should be used. I am working to have eyebolts banned for overhead lifting. Maybe this type of accident, which never should have occurred, could help to ban the use of eyebolts.

Alan L. Stein

President

Craine Training, USA, Inc.

West Chester, Ohio