15.05.2013
Steady as she goes
A video sent in this morning shows a free standing tower crane exhibiting an unusual degree of flex.
The video is on YouTube and has just been posted, but we do not know where it was taken or when. We understand that it was a relatively still day and the crane was lifting a small load or at least trying to.
It is of course completely free standing in an open spot, but the operator would do well to have sea legs. Although it may also be due to the load it was trying to lift suddenly coming free from deep mud or concrete – just as well it was not stuck more firmly than it was, or that the crane was not as sturdy.
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The tower crane which shows an unusual degree of flex
Click here to watch the video
UPDATE - with Comment: The video has now been taken down - possibly due to pressure from the YouTube acount holder's employer? We don't know. Hopefully the contractor will have upgraded its advice to its tower crane operators and staff and used this opportunity to improve safety rather than just trying to suppress what would have been a very useful training aid for the industry as a whole.
Perhaps any experts out there can give us the benefit of your expertise? And if anyone knows where this took place we have a bet in the office on where it might be.
As an operator who trained me back in Ireland used to say, cranes are made for lifting...not for pulling. You want to pull it, get a tractor!
Seems something is stuck in the concrete and they are pulling it loose with the crane. Always a big no no with the risk of shock load.
If a banksman did that to me without me knowing I would be livid! Looking at the video I would say the operator was well aware of what they were trying to do. Bigger fool he is too.
Col H
Nothing to heavy
Squeaky bum time!