03.11.2011

Third time lucky

Two men were rescued from a boom lift with a crane in Morristown New Jersey yesterday after two hours and two previous attempts.

It seems that the boom lift, a JLG Ultra boom (a 1200?) was working around 100ft/30 metres or more up, repairing storm damage to the steeple of the United Methodist Church in Morristown, when the lift tilted forward causing the platform to crash into the steeple, pushing the jib upwards and causing the unit to lock out.
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The boom lift was fully extended

The two men used their mobile phones to summon help, the local fire ladder arrived, but was too short. A longer one arrived from another fire service and it was also too short. Eventually a mobile crane arrived with a suspended platform and the two were safely evacuated from the lift. In all they were trapped for just over two hours.
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All three rescue methods are present as the crane moves in

The rescue involved at least two fire departments, ambulance, police and a police helicopter with dozens of emergency services personnel. The boom lift was retracted and removed from the building before dark.
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After more than two hours the men are rescued

Vertikal Comment

It seems that having fully extended the lift and working at a fair radius, the two drove the unit in order to better position themselves relative to their work. However the lift was working on a small road with a pronounced camber. It is almost certainly the uneven nature of the road surface that caused the fully extended boom to lurch forward.

While the two men caused a great deal of strife on their first day on the church job, they were wearing harnesses and lanyards and were safe in their beds last night. Alls well that ends well - although there maybe a considerable cost for someone to bear.

I wonder what sort of training these two have had?