08.10.2014
Two cranes fall in Switzerland
Two cranes – a mobile and a tower crane - overturned this morning in a residential area in Switzerland.
Please register to see all images
The falling crane also damaged surrounding buildings
The incident occurred early this morning when it appears that a six-axle All Terrain crane, owned by Welti-Furrer, began dismantling a regular top slewing tower crane that had been working on a new building in the town of Affoltern am Albis, to the south west of Zurich. The contractor of the job is Leuthard and we understand that two men on site received ‘moderate injuries’.
Please register to see all images
The tower crane went over backwards and pulled the mobile with it
At this stage we only have a little input from the scene, but it seems that the mobile crane was removing the tower crane’s jib before the back mast counterweight causing the crane, which was erected on a counterweighted base, to become back-heavy. It then went over, pulling the mobile with it.
Please register to see all images
The tower crane had a counterweighted base
Serious damage was caused to two vehicles on the ground, including a truck, and 24 residents of a nearby retirement home were evacuated to another part of the home for safety reasons.
An investigation has begun led by the Canton of Zurich and the Limmat Valley police.
Please register to see all images
The damage to both cranes is severe
Daz
the crane looks like an WK200EC
if you look carefully at the rear of the lorry, you can see that 2 of the counterweights are loaded (2te & ate) along with a 5.5te block still upright.
its hard to tell the jib length on the crane, but looking at it i would presume 60m the maximum length, which could concur with the statement that counterweights were left in the counter jib.
its sad to see such an incident and hope then everyone involved is ok.
Michael Brown
Such a fundamental mistake in the dismantling process & so so lucky there was not multiple casualties. There appears to be an increase in European incidents lately.