07.06.2013

Lucky escape in Genoa

Two men working from a boom lift in Genoa had a lucky escape on Wednesday when the ground gave way below the wheels on one side of the machine causing it to lose stability.
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The machine tipped backwards as the ground gave way below one set of wheels

The two were using the lift, which appears to be a Genie Z135/70, for restoration work on an historic building above the Corso Europa highway when the 'subsidence', caused the machine to tip over backwards. The fully retracted riser came to rest on the boundary wall preventing it from falling into the road.
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The machine was recovered using a crane plus block and tackle

The two men had already jumped onto the roof as the machine began to shift and were completely unhurt. The incident caused traffic delays as the road was closed until the machine was recovered with a mobile crane and a set of blocks.
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Another view of the recovery which was completed successful

Vertikal Comment

This seems to be a grossly oversized machine for the job at hand, and given the high likelihood of underground void in the garden around an historic building, it is puzzling that this unit was ever selected for the work.

Thankfully no one was hurt and the damage appears minimal,