I wasn't there but the rings that make up the walls of a large tank are eight feet wide and about six rings so I'd say it was 48 feet. Obviously from the top level as the tank bars are used to align roof plates as they are laid down on the rafters, so there would be no other reason to have a tank bar up above. The tank bar is the first tool to be taken up above when setting the plates. Just reasoning out why the guy wasn't killed or seriously injured is because the tip of the tank bar is pointed but dull. It would pierce through clothes and skins but push aside vital organs would would shift as the bar passes through. Gruesome to see but in this case the guy was lucky and never even lost consciousness. I imagine everyone was horrified at the sight though. Also, the dad was foolishly breaking a hard set and well known OSHA rule to NEVER work under someone where a tool can be dropped. I've seen a foreman working over a welder as he removed fitting aids from a seam and he dropped a heavy wedge right on the back of the welder. If one of us had done that we would have been chewed out and written up. In the case of the guy getting his foot sheared off, properly done the upright beam should have been tack welded on both sides and then stabilized with a diagonal support that could later be removed. Foreman failed to do either and failed to inspect the tack weld which was way too small. All this was his direct responsibility or at very least put competent fitters on a critical bit like that. Then they brought in a large section to fit next to the beam by crane lowing it into place. It bumped the beam as is common and normal and the small tack just gave way. Even at that, nothing horrible should have happened as everyone should have been well back when moving a large section into place. However high a piece is you should be watching it and stepping back at least that far and then a good ten feet further. We all know that and are frequently reminded in safety meetings on overhead load safety. There's no excuse. In my mind, the man should have been drug tested, (most likely was and found negative) and then fired. If you're that stupid you have no business in such an occupation. Someone who can't keep their wits about them is a constant liability. Insurance goes up, a report gets filed and it's a red mark on safety ratings. That accident alone cost the shipyard a nice fat red mark on it's rating and then it's insurance and possibly on future contracts but then politics can sort of smooth that part over. The insurance rating can't be fixed except with time. As for the kid who had his leg pinned and severely damaged this was also caused by a poor tack but in his defense he was new and was most likely told to tack a the padeye and didn't make it strong enough. Then when they attempted to lower the plate into position the padeye gave way and the plate slide down and pinched him at the knee. Of course his knee was ruined. Maybe knee replacement could return him to a more comfortable life?