01.07.2013

Lucky power line escape

The boom of a truck crane came too close to high tension overhead power lines yesterday in Cedar Hills, Utah injuring a man.

The crane, owned and operated by Woods Crane Service, was lifting lumber for the new clubhouse at the Cedar Hills golf course, to the south of Salt Lake City, when the incident happened. The operator apparently slewed the crane and came close enough to the power lines for the electricity to arc to boom and run through the crane to earth and blowing out a tyre in the process.
The flying debris from the exploding tyre hit a construction worker standing near the crane, severing an artery in his arm, the emergency services managed to stop the bleeding and he was treated in hospital before being released. The crane operator stayed in his cab until the power was turned off and was unhurt.
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The crane and operator escaped with one exploded tyre

The incident did knock out power for 15,000 homes in the area for around 20 minutes or so.

Vertikal Comment

These power lines were clearly visible and the crane should never have set up anywhere near them. And even then a slew limit warning set to ensure that the the operator did not forget the overhead lines behind him.

Alternatively if he had planned out his lifts even in the most basic of ways he could have organised it so it to avoid any chance of coming close to the wires.

This operator who according to the company's website is NCCCO certified, is exceptionally lucky, but with a more methodical approach he need not have relied on luck and in doing so put other peoples lives in jeopardy.