crane collapse in NYC

I concur. It's amazing how much the wind speed can be increased in situations such as this when funneled in between highrises. I'd be willing to bet at least a major portion of the cause of this was wind being funneled against the luffer, causing a side-load stress as the boom was being lowered.
I saw a report on this on Fox news this morning. Someone actually sent in a pic of a nearby office, where the headache ball ended up landing right in the middle of someone's deskr! Scary Shiite all around......

 

Took some searching, but found the pic of the hook. Apparently (EXTREMELY fortunately!) the desk was unoccupied when this came crashing in. Can you imagine taking a leak/smoke break and coming back to this??!?

Definitely a good day to put a fiver or so on the lotto! @johndeere4020

 

I wonder when the last time that crane was inspected. Around here I believe they require cranes to have an annual NDT inspection for cracks and fatigue.

 

I believe that I read somewhere that it had been inspected with the last few weeks. Maybe it was months, but fairly recently anyway.

 

The day before the accident.

 

One thing I can say is this. I'll try and leave the politics out of this.

My former employer was a disaster subcontractor during the hurricane/"superstorm" Sandy cleanup a couple of years ago. About 3/4 of our company packed up and spent 2 months working in a NYC borough . We had mostly bucket trucks for tree crews and knuckleboom trucks for big debris piles (I had no idea they had that many trees in some areas of the city! lol) and 2 cranes. I was running a Terex T560,



and we would go to specific sites where trees had fallen on mostly houses and a few buildings. The borough also had a local contractor they had on contract with a couple of boom trucks that would go to the smaller jobs. I had an occasion to see them in action one day while we were waiting for the power company to show up and cut power to the lines that a 35'-40' tree we were picking was laying on. They were working in a small city park across the street so we went to see if they might need a few extra hands. What I ended up seeing/learning of NYC unions frightened me. They have a ground crew (one with a CDL I'm assuming) show up, position the crane and set it up for each pick. Then, the operator with a C-card (license) shows up and basically hops in, does the pick, then either leaves or stands by BSing with whomever while his oiler and ground crew break the crane down and move to the next pick and re-set back up.

Apparently that's how the unions work- each guy does what his title is, and no more! So it wouldn't surprise me in the least if it turns out in this case that the operator wasn't even involved with the inspection or maintenance of this crane.....Understand I am NOT stating this as fact, just that it is a distinct possibility......

 

Typically annual NDT inspections here are done by a certified inspection company and they usually mag particle all welds on the unit to ensure the integrity of the machine.

Mines operate much the same way you described the NY unions. I spent some time doing mining shovel rebuilds at a non-union mine and it was the same way. Crane crew comes in and sets up. Electricians disconnect the electrical from the component, riggers hook the crane to the component, mechanics unbolt the component, crane crew flys out the part and riggers remove the slings. Then repeat in reverse. While 1 group is working, the rest basically sit back and watch. I hated that job with a passion. Way too much standing around for my liking.

 

Same wasted time on Union crane lifts versus non-union, when I was involved with picking and setting houses.
Each person had there designated duty and was not allowed to do anything else.
Seemed like such an added expense. Keeps more people employed!
Non-Union had 1/2 the people and usually took less time.

 

Bay Crane is a top notch outfit. I've worked with them on more than a few occasions.

Not saying oversights and accidents don't happen.

I'm saying they aren't the guys that say "####it, run it and hope for the best" they are thorough.

I watched the setup of that particular unit on their facebook page.

Union vs nonunion: like it or don't-jobs like that one people are "experts in their field" and therefore only do what they are "experts" in.

I was saddened to see this event occur.

 

Good point.
Sad anytime an accident and someone is hurt/killed.