Hot galvanising rack falls on colleague: penalty order for crane operator

28/07/2026 · Frauenfeld Public Prosecutor (penalty order) · Frauenfeld (Region) (TG) · Seriously injured

What happened A rack at about 440 °C was set on a cooling beam but unhooked on one side only. When the crane moved off it toppled onto a colleague, who was trapped underneath for about 45 seconds.

What the court decided Penalty order not contested – final.

• Crane operator (employee): convicted of serious bodily harm by negligence, 30 day-fines of CHF 120 (total CHF 3,600), suspended + fine CHF 500. Fully unhooked only one side of the hot rack and moved the crane off, dragging it onto a colleague. With due care the accident was avoidable.

Before moving off: are all hook points visibly free? Nobody next to a hot load until the crane is clear.

Source: Thurgauer Zeitung (DE)