In a tragic incident on Tuesday, a worker was killed at a warehouse in the western suburbs of Carol Stream, Illinois, when an aluminum spool fell from a crane. Emergency personnel from the Carol Stream fire and police departments were alerted to the scene at 457 Saint Paul Blvd. shortly after midday.

The accident occurred within the confines of a warehouse operated by S&S International, a modest family-owned business specializing in stainless steel. At the time of the incident, a truck driver had maneuvered his vehicle into one of the loading bays to collect spools of aluminum. The victim, a 55-year-old employee, was assisting in loading a substantial metal spool onto the truck’s flatbed.

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The warehouse utilizes cranes suspended from the rafters to facilitate the movement of these hefty spools onto waiting trucks. According to police reports, a malfunction occurred when a component of the crane, possibly a strap, gave way. This failure resulted in the spool plummeting down onto the employee.

Authorities reported that these spools can weigh as much as 48,000 pounds. Unfortunately, the impact of the falling spool was fatal, and the man succumbed instantly to his injuries.

Cranes are attached to the rafters to transport the spools to trucks. Police say a piece of the crane broke, possibly a strap, causing one of the spools to fall on the employee.

Police say spools are possibly about 48,000 pounds. The man died immediately.

One truck driver waiting outside to load up his truck says he heard a loud pop when the accident occurred.

The employee’s identity was not immediately released.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials arrived on scene before 4 p.m. to investigate, and the fire department was there to help remove the body safely.

The Carol Stream Police Department is conducting its own non-criminal death investigation.

No one from the company was immediately available for comment on Tuesday.

Further information was not immediately available.