03.09.2020
Another tree fatality
A man died after the boom failed on the bucket truck he was using while cutting a tree limb in Minnesota on Tuesday.
The man, James Mueller, 62, owner of Jim's Tree Service was working from the platform of his Hi-Ranger truck mounted lift in the town of Zumbrota, south east of Minneapolis, Minnesota, when the boom is reported to have failed, dropping him to the ground.
According to the Zumbrota Police Department, Mueller was working at a height of around 10 metres when the boom - which has an insulated section - “broke off of the truck”. We have no idea what may have caused the failure, and if it was down to fatigue in the boom sections or a tree limb had fallen and struck the boom. On arrival paramedics from the local ambulance service attempted to save his life but were unsuccessful and he was declared dead at the scene.
The incident is now under investigation with the Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner's Office.
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Jim’s Tree Service’s bucket truck in action
Atlanta Drew
These same devices also have known fatigue cracking issues where every lift cylinder meets the boom tube (at the lift plates). This cracking is even more prevalent than the cracking at the main lift cylinder. The design of the device creates very high stresses in all of these areas, such that even repairs to these areas will continue to crack forever.
Atlanta Drew
Terex Hi-Rangers from 2004 or earlier have a known fatigue cracking issue where the lowest lift cylinder (the main one) intersects with the boom (at that lift cylinder plate). This has been known to cause failure of the boom. I have compiled a lot of information about this. Please feel free to reach out if you need it.
Sherm
My condolences to Jim’s family and team members.