16.02.2012

Crane drops beams in NY

A failed hoist cable on a tower crane allowed three large steel beams to drop around 140 metres on to a truck earlier today at the World Trade Centre site in New York.

The large luffing jib crane, owned by Federated Crane of New Jersey, had lifted the three beams said to weigh around 15 tonnes in total, from the delivery truck and hosted it to the 40th storey of Tower 4, when the cable broke.
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The three beams and the broken hoist cable

The three beams plummeted to the ground landing on the trailer from which they had been lifted. One man was offered treatment for a minor injury, but refused it. No one else was involved.
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The crushed trailer

A spokesman for the main contractor Tishman said that work on the tower has been partially shut down as it investigates the incident along with the Port Authority and city’s Department of Buildings.
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The crane concerned

Federated Crane or Equipment is part of the Davis Group which also owns DCM Erectors the specialised crane constructor.