Shiploading halted at Port of Oakland after worker's death

Longshore workers suspended all shiploading operations at the Port of Oakland today after a worker was killed aboard a ship while moving a 15-ton container, authorities said.

Reginald Ross, 39, of San Francisco, died as the shipping container was being moved aboard the Stuttgart Express, a Hapag-Lloyd containership, about 4:30 p.m. Monday, authorities said. Ross died at a hospital two hours later, said John Showalter, spokesman for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.

"This is an extremely dangerous job, and our sympathy and our hearts go to the family of Mr. Ross," Showalter said. "Our union's motto is, 'An injury to one is an injury to all,' and safety is the foundation for our work."

Longshore workers are not loading containers onto ships pending a safety review at the port, Showalter said.

Workers have told port officials that they don't plan to return until 8 a.m. Wednesday, port spokeswoman Marilyn Sandifur said. The stoppage is affecting loading and unloading at five or six ships today, she said.

"The loss of life is a concern to all of us," Sandifur said. "We will be waiting to find out what the result of the investigation is."

Ross' death is being investigated by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which looks into fatalities aboard ships.

Trucks will also be unable to load or unload cargo at the port while the workers are out, Sandifur said. Assuming the workers return to the job Wednesday, it might take several days to catch up on loading operations, she said.

Ross, who had worked at the port for several years, suffered multiple blunt trauma, according to the Alameda County coroner's office. He was not a registered member of the union but rather a "casual," a worker who is trying to accumulate enough hours and experience to become a member, Showalter said.

Source:SFGate.com