08.07.2012
Boom truck overturns in Maryland
A large boom truck type truck crane overturned in Bethesda, Maryland on Saturday while removing a tree from the back yard of a house.
The operator was trapped in the cab of the crane and was taken to hospital with a broken leg. The crane was rented to remove a large oak tree that was damaged in storms a week earlier.
Initial reports suggest that the operator was trying to lift a section of the tree that was heavier than he expected. A co-worker was in the tree at the time of the time of the overturn, but was unhurt.
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The overturned crane
The homes on either side of the crane’s boom were virtually undamaged. A couple of large recovery trucks were called in to pull the boom truck back onto its wheels and remove it.
Vertikal Comment
Removing trees from the backyard of a home... how many times do operators underestimate the weight?
Trees, along with hot tubs should sounds alarm bells with any crane rental hire desk/dispatcher. The money is usually poor while the risk of an overturn seems higher than for other types of lift.
The attraction is probably the idea of a quick lift – easy money – however a large number of companies have found that such lifts deserve more respect but only after the damage has been done.
davethecrane davethecrane
I remember an experienced tree doctor (University Graduate) telling me on a job once that "Trees rot from the bottom upwards, so the bottom is proportionally far lighter than the top". He changed his tune when the last lift of the day nearly had the crane over....."I can't understand it - that's not usually the case......". Which brings me back to the best bit of advice I ever got off an old-timer operator - NEVER BELIEVE ANYTHING THE CUSTOMER TELLS YOU!