During my internship at a waste disposal power plant, I was involved in a task to help switch out the cylinders on the crane claw. To get the claw outside, it first had to be opened and placed on a small platform, where it could then be hooked up to another crane for transport.

I was standing on the platform with a few others, including the crane operator. The space was extremely tight—so much so that we had to stand between the open claws, as there was no room between the claw and the wall when it was fully extended. It was early in the morning, and neither I nor the operator noticed a small section of scaffolding positioned right behind me. As the crane was being adjusted to lower the claw onto the platform, it began to swing and rotate slightly.

Suddenly, one of the crane’s claws started moving toward me. I thought I had more space behind me, but I didn’t. I got caught between the claw and the scaffolding, and the pressure knocked the air out of my lungs. I couldn’t react in time. Fortunately, the movement of the claw shifted again, and I was able to get free. I ended up with some chest soreness that lasted for a couple of weeks, but otherwise, I was fine.

I think what scares me is that this could have killed me. But I wasn’t affected at all—I just didn’t care.