10.11.2012

Outrigger issues causes crane overturn

A crane overturned yesterday in Newcastle, New Hampshire after an outrigger jack punched through into an underground septic tank while lifting trees from the back yard of a house.
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The overturned crane

The crane narrowly missed the building and we understand that no one was injured.

We are told that the four axle truck mounted crane is owned by Quick Pick Crane Service of New Hampshire, a representative from the company said: “The truck had remained on the spot all day until the stabiliser punched through the septic tank. The crews had only one tree left to remove when the truck tipped. I wasn't aware we were sitting on a septic tank. It wasn't marked on the paperwork."

Vertikal Comment

Lifting trees and working close to homes with larger cranes is fraught with risk. Thankfully in this case no one was hurt. It makes you think when setting up to work such a job that it would be worth asking where the sewer and water mains are and if they have no sewer, where is the septic tank.

It looks as though in this case the operator at least made an attempt with some cribbing under the outriggers, although the crane was short rigged.