12.07.2012
Spider flips in Belgium
Two men jumped clear of a spider lift as it overturned in Menem, Belgium yesterday, they are said to have suffered from leg fractures of some kind.
The men were working on roof repairs in what looks like an Italmec R14 or R16 supplied by Alti.
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The overturned machine
According to the men’s employer, building renovations company Hendrik Deryckere, the accident was caused by their failure to properly set the machines outriggers after having relocated it.
Both the R14 and R16, which are no longer in production, have a reduced capacity beyond four metres and this unit was clearly well into that 120kg maximum capacity range. Two men even little ones would certainly have exceeded that – add poor outrigger set up and it is easy to understand how this occurred.
The two jumped as the lift began to go and landed on the roof of an adjoining home, causing their injuries. The cage was crushed in the fall so their move might have been for the best? Although they may well have escaped with severe bruising rather than broken legs?
Urban Access
Looking at the photograph of the secondary telescopic boom and fly jib position, this would suggest that the machine was configured for 1 man / 120kg max lift capacity only as the fly jib is in the extended position in line with the telescopic boom. This begs the question, was a safety interlock overridden or not functioning correctly thus preventing an overload condition whilst using the fly jib with 2 operators on board?