Today we all mourn a fallen fellow operator. I don’t know his name yet but he worked in Honolulu for American Concrete Pumping. We should say a prayer for his family. This is going to be a hard time for them all. I have heard he was an only son and his own son witnessed the accident. I have gotten conflicting stories, its too soon to say what happened. It’s a sad day when we lose one of our own.

Please be safe.

By Ron Mizutani
A 50-year-old construction employee, working side-by-side with his son, was killed Monday in an industrial accident involving a tower crane and a concrete pumper. Witnesses believe strong winds may have contributed to the deadly accident which happened at just a 11-20 in the morning.

Construction workers at the upscale Moana Vista condominium project are ordered to clear the site on Kapiolani Boulevard, as investigators focus their energy near the boom of a concrete pumper. Below their activity, sits a damaged construction hard hat -- cracked in several places.

"Basically the crane was lifting something up and apparently the wind caught hold of it -- and hit the boom from the concrete pumper and the worker was standing underneath the concrete pumper. The boom from the concrete pumper came down and struck the operator in the facial area," said Lieutenant Bennett Martin of the Honolulu Police Department.
Workers at the site identified the victim as 50-year-old Greg Wong, a pump operator with American Standard Concrete Pumping, Hawaii. Wong was pronounced dead just after noon at Straub Hospital.

"Everything is an accident that' why we get eyes behind our back, we get fellowships friends in front of us, back of us -- everywhere -- we all got to communicate and help each other, said co-worker Kawika Lepoldo.

Friends say Wong was working side-by-side with his son at the time of the accident.

"Tear jerking -- very emotional," said Leopoldo.

The owner of American Standard Concrete Pumping, Hawaii declined to comment on camera but extended the company's condolences to the family and said "Mr. Wong was one of our best employees." The company is one of the state's leaders in concrete placement -- co-workers say Wong was one of the best in the business.

"A great loving dad always helping out -- very dedicated to the company," said Leopoldo. "Greg Wong we'll miss you brother -- thank you for the support, the help the knowledge and everything else."

A full investigation has been launched.

To see th video

http://www.khon2.com/home/ticker/19477729.html

According to the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, a construction crane on the site was bringing materials down from the seventh floor of the unfinished building. The crane was escalating again to pick up materials when the sling snagged the concrete pump, which was nearby.

Police investigating the scene said workers told them some yelled, "Watch out!" after the sling snapped, prompting the concrete boom pump to swing into Wong, who was working on the ground.

Does anyone have a picture of Mr. Greg Wong? I cant find one of him.

Hi, Todd!

 I am trying to login and cannot reply to the accident that happen in Honolulu, Hawaii.  He is a good friend of mine and we worked with each for years with two different companies. He has worked for 26 years in the concrete pumping industry and I have 30 years in the pumping industry. We learned at the same time and back in 1978, he had quit concrete pumping and did other construction work for about 4 years. Greg Wong is his name, he is a good and safe operator the way the news say things is not right.  I have talk to the Foreman that was at the hospital and he told me that he did not see it coming, said his son. He was working on his boom gasket on the tip elbow and told his son to get a new one and when he turn back he seen every thing and his son took it hard and I know the whole family and it hard for me because I brought Greg back into concrete pumping and we have trained a lot of  co-workers.  The Crane operator I know him throw a lot of construction job site and hand an incident with the same operator before on a high rise that I was doing and his counter weights hit the placing boom. I say that the operator is at fault because he knows that you don’t fly anything over people under load, the rigger should know that and sound the horn.  I have my own company and watch a lot of companies go through unsafe things.  One of my operators is always on your web page, know as Hamma.  I’m well known and know every thing that goes on in the Islands on pumping.        

Thank you.

Herbert

Its not only ourselves we have to be aware of,I was a drill shaft late one night and had just moved to wash out,the drill crew had a trackhoe on site and was tracking to the fuel truck as I raised my boom to washout I looked up and there was a power line about 6" inches from my boom in the cradle I followed the line to the trackhoe he had his boom hung on the cable line if I wouldn,t have seen it we wouldnt be here today.One of my habits of always looking up before raising my boom paid off.Not saying there was anything Mr.Wong could have done,its dangerous out there and its not always possible to save yourself or others. 

I just got this email and I was asked to post it.

I didn’t know him as well as many but I know him well enough to say that he was a good friend and teacher. There is only a hand full of guys who taught allot of the pumpers in Hawaii and he was one of them as well as Herbet who I learned from.  I remember Greg Wong as a guy who looked grumpy most times but he really wasn’t. Through my years pumping in Hawaii with a different company when I see him at a job or on the road he would always wave. Old timers like him are good people to have in this industry and I know his knowledge and memories will still carry on through the guys he trained his friends and his family.

Aloha to you Greg Wong and also to his family and to all that knew him

Alfred 

Hi, Todd!

There is an account that American Standard Concrete Pumping  is processing to open up for Greg Wong ‘s family.  I will let you know when the account is open for monetary donations in behalf of Greg Wong.  I do not have any pictures of him, but I will try to get one, Greg wasn’t a camera guy, he did not like taking pictures.  He was into racing and building hot rods.   I have spoken to Greg Perrin, Owner of American Standard and he knows you, Todd, and I’m going to keep you up dated on the services and other information as they come about.

Aloha,

Herbert