01.08.2005

Power lines give Crane a jolt

Two workers survived a high-voltage shock on Saturday when the hoist cables of a crane accidentally touched a power line above a bridge widening project on Route 24 east of Yakima in Washington state, USA. The power supply to almost 5,000 local residents was also disrupted

Around midday on Saturday the crane operator, employed by Malcolm drilling, the owner of the crane, slewed his boom over the power lines causing the hoist lines to come into contact with them. Local reports say that the operator had not seen the power lines.

The crane driver remained in his cab and was not hurt, but the electricity surged through the ground and hit a 45 year old man standing about seven metres away from the crane.
The man was transported to Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital and was released after medical checks.

Another man who was operating a pile driver near the crane received shocks to his legs, but not seriously hurt. Dry grass and some protective tape burst into flames causing two fires which had to be dealt with by the local fire service.

Malcolm Drilling operate Liebherr 140 tonne 883HD crawler cranes as well as LinkBelt 218 and several foundation rig cranes,