29.04.2022
Tower crane jib buckle
The jib of a hydraulic luffing jib tower crane buckled during assembly on a job site in Canterbury, UK yesterday, thankfully no one was hurt in the incident.
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The crane - a new 18 tonne Jaso J198HPA from Falcon Crane - was being assembled for work on a development of 50 retirement apartments being built by contractor McCarthy Stone.
A statement from McCarthy Stone said: “We can confirm that there was an incident during the erection of our contractor’s tower crane at our new retirement living development. No one was hurt during the incident and our health and safety team is attending the site immediately to assess the situation.”
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A Bronzeshield Crane Hire All Terrain was on site at the time and assisting with installing and then dismantling the jib.
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FAO Andrew Brown - Director
FALCON TOWER CRANE SERVICES LTD
Shipdham Airfield Ind Estate
Shipdham
Thetford
Norfolk, IP25 7SD.
Good Morning Mr Brown,
In the absence of your Report into the Canterbury Dropped Jib incident 28 April 2022.
My ongoing Research confirms that Canterbury was no Accident instead it was an excellent example of how pro-actively Managing Safety does not cost but is actually a Cost Saving as this wrecked Jib now adds £5000+ to your installation.
A dynamic risk asessment RAMS reveals that….
1. The Jaso J198HPA Luffing Tower Crane has a 55m long Jib made up of 7 x lattice sections with a gross weight of 21.546 tonnes .
2. To maintain the structural rigidity of such a long jib lifted horizontally while overcoming the earths gravitational pull requires rigging of 2 over 4 slings set approx 12 metres apart or....
3. Better still, a Lifting Beam with 6 x Slings, Chains or Chainblocks set 8.8 metres apart to maintain the structural rigidity of this 55 metre long lattice luffing Jib.
Moreover, given that Canterbury was a self evident breach of the Common Law Duty of Care to all others affected by your Acts and is Crane/Lifting Incident number 1146 in my 15 year database. All of which has Killed 614 persons.
It would appear that if the Crane Industry carries on like this you will not get Employers Statutory Liability Insurance at any Price.
Please invite me to your AGM near Henley in Arden to present my 15yrs Research ?
I await your Invitation and remain Yours sincerely
Mike Ponsonby
Silver Fox House
Fox Lane
Bromsgrove
Worcs. B617NL.
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FAO Andrew Brown - Director
FALCON TOWER CRANE SERVICES LTD
Shipdham Airfield Ind Estate
Shipdham
Thetford
Norfolk, IP25 7SD.
Good Morning Mr Brown,
As 28 days has now elapsed since your Dropped Jib Incident in Canterbury on 26 April 2022.
This is more than enough time to Investigate what went Wrong and to Publish your Final Report on this website. The motivation being that this incident is not repeated.
Moreover as your Canterbury incident had potential to be Fatal for those Men working on the Ground around this Luffing Tower Crane, this was Incident number 1145 in my 15yr database with 856 previous examples of Dropped Loads.
So please publish your Report or Risk Assessment or Lift Plan for this Luffing Tower Crane Jib lift please ?
I await your report and remain
Yours sincerely
Mike Ponsonby
Silver Fox House
Fox Lane
Bromsgrove
Worcs. B617NL.
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FAO Andrew Brown - Director
FALCON TOWER CRANE SERVICES LTD
Shipdham Airfield Ind Estate
Shipdham
Thetford
Norfolk, IP25 7SD.
Good Morning Mr Brown,
As the Dropped Jib depicted above is the Fourth major incident involving Falcon Tower Cranes in just over 15yrs all of which has already killed 3 persons.
This potentially Fatal Incident now requires your personal attention to investigate what went wrong and more importantly to take steps to ensure no repeat of this potential fatality.
Please publish your Final Report on this excellent website so that the World can learn from these Incidents and ensure no repetition of the same circumstances.
FYI only, this incident in Canterbury is now number 1136 in my database of 15 years research into Crane Safety, with Falcon listed on 4 x seperate occasions.
I await your report and remain
Yours sincerely
Mike Ponsonby
Silver Fox House
Fox Lane
Bromsgrove
Worcs. B617NL.
Crane lads
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