Aircraft Manufacturer Fined $60,000 for Failing to Ensure Safe Lifting

Aircraft plant workers using a single-sling choker hitch to move and flip a 22-foot-long wing component weighing 2,000 pounds lost control, causing the component to slip free and fall to the ground pinning one of the crew members. The worker survived but suffered serious injuries. The employer pleaded guilty to one OHS violation and was hit with a fine of $60,000 plus a 25% surcharge [Cyclone Manufacturing Incorporated, Govt. Press Release, December 1, 2020].