Pipeline worker dies in accident

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.wiscnews.com/pdr/news/272967

By Matthew Call, Daily Register

Work on an oil pipeline stretching through the state stopped this weekend after an accident killed a worker on a stretch of the line in the town of Columbus.

James E. Green, 39, of Michigan, died early Saturday morning when the trackhoe he was operating overturned and crushed him. Green was an employee of Welded Construction of Perrysburg, Ohio, one of the four firms that make up the Global Pipeline Partners contracting team.

Global Pipeline spokesman Thad Nation said work was shut down after the accident and was not expected to resume until today after a site visit from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Crews had been working on the pipe seven days a week. Green's accident happened around 1:30 a.m. on county Highway K near Wendt Road.

Authorities said Green was married with three children and had worked on the pipeline for a year.

At the time of the accident, Green was using the trackhoe to move a concrete weight that is used to stabilize pipeline in wetlands areas, said Denise Hamsher, a spokeswoman with Houston-based Enbridge Energy, which is building the pipeline.

FULL story at link.