Jury finds ports authority not responsible in accident
By Schuyler Kropf
Past stories
Arguments begin in port death lawsuit; Worker died in 2004 when he was crushed by a shipping container, published 08/26/08
Crane maker, SPA sued in port death; Ed Holst's family questioning safety practices on docks, published 02/24/05
Danger on the Docks; Sudden spike in deaths, injuries raise port safety questions, published 04/10/05
A jury deliberated about two hours Thursday before ruling the State Ports Authority was not responsible for the death of a worker accidentally crushed by a 20-ton container.
William Edward Holst Jr., 52, a union container checker, was killed as he was moving around tall stacks of container boxes in July 2004 at the Port of Charleston's Wando Welch Terminal.
His widow filed suit, saying the veteran dockworker was a victim of inadequately trained personnel and an overall unsafe workplace. Holst was out of view of a crane operator when a container box was being moved and was placed on top of him.
SPA attorneys argued Holst errantly walked into a dangerous area and should have been alert to the risks when containers are being moved.
Holst's family members gave way to tears after the verdict was read inside the Charleston County Judicial Center.
"We just don't understand it," said Kevin Dean, attorney for Holst's widow. The safety motto had been "always keep a look out for your man," Dean said during his closing argument in the four-day trial.
Ports Authority attorney Randell C. Stoney Jr. said the death was an emotional and tragic accident. "Our heart goes out to the Holst family," he said.
Holst's job as a checker was to the make sure the right container boxes were being sent to the correct assignment. He was a longtime veteran of port work.
Stoney called the accident "a unique injury in the history of the port" where thousands of containers are moved yearly.
Reach Schuyler Kropf at 937-5551, or skropf@postandcourier.com.
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palmettotree (anonymous) says...
I have worked on the water and in a position as a checker for vessels. It is a very dangerous job and that checker knew that you have to keep an eye on where the boxes are going. you can not take your eyes off of the movement for a second. One of the first things taught is you CAN NOT GET UNDER CONTAINERS WHILE THEY ARE BEING UNLOADED ONTO A LOCATION! The port has rules to go by and if they are not it may lead to injury or death. The port is a very dangerous place to work if you don't pay attention. The operator up in the crane I am sure feels real bad for what happened. I may know the operator too and all of the operators I know are some of the best people around. Safety is first and formeost number one at the ports. If you don't follow safety procedures you are fired.
August 29, 2008 at 8:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
crankyyankee (anonymous) says...
As long as I have lived here the State Port has never accepted responibility for anything negative they have caused!
August 29, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jeff61 (anonymous) says...
Posted by crankyyankee on August 29, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As long as I have lived here the State Port has never accepted responibility for anything negative they have caused!
Provide specifics please if you have any
August 29, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
I won't tarnish a deceased person's reputation or disrespect their family.
The jury made the right decision.
August 29, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
crankyyankee (anonymous) says...
Jeff, the poliferation of invasive species (several P&C articles), the truck traffic on our interstates, the union threats and skirmishes every time non-union labor is used in this right to work State, the loss of receational use of the rivers and harbor for boaters and the generous employment packages enjoyed by the Port Managers. The Port should have been sold to the private tax paying sector long ago!
August 29, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lou9 (anonymous) says...
I have never worked on the docks but I have worked in an industrial plant for several years. In industry they say that safety rules are "written in blood". They are there because someone got hurt or killed before. You can write safety rules and procedures out the wazoo, correct unsafe conditions, provide personal protective equipment, and provide proper training and supervision all you want. If one person gets complacent or doesn't understand the inherent dangers in their job or takes unnecessary shortcuts to get the job done quickly then they set themselves up for an accident and either they or someone else winds up getting hurt. I'm not trying to say that accidents will happen but in any job with dangers you have to be on your toes at all times. Most often it is the long time employee that gets seriously hurt rather than the new guy. It sounds like this man put himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, probably trying to hurry up and get his work done. I feel very sorry for his family.
August 29, 2008 at 9:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jeff61 (anonymous) says...
Posted by crankyyankee on August 29, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Port should have been sold to the private tax paying sector long ago!
If the port should have been sold as you say,,,then the port would still be there and still have most of the issues you listed?
"the truck traffic on our interstates".. Hmmmmm maybe that is what the interstates where designed for????
"generous employment packages enjoyed by the Port Managers"...I am sure a private company would provide the same.
I guess the Port should not accept any responsibilty for providing employement to people???
August 29, 2008 at 9:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suec (anonymous) says...
I am glad to see a jury use common sense instead of just doling out cash from deep pockets.
August 29, 2008 at 10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ironhorse (anonymous) says...
It is great to see a jury that thinks "under the box".
August 29, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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