04.11.2014

Fatal crawler crane overturn in S. Africa

A large lattice boomed crawler crane overturned in South Africa yesterday killing two and injuring four others.

The crane was working on a construction site of a new solar power plant, around 40kms from the town of Upington in the Northern Cape, when it went over killing a 26 year old female employee at the scene. A 31 year old male also died in hospital a few hours later. The four other workers are being treated at a local hospital, although their condition is unknown.
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The crane was working on wet sandy ground

The crane appears to have been rigged with a long boom and jib, reportedly a total 198 metre system length. The crane was contracted to the Spanish contractor Abengoa Solar, which trades as Khi Solar in South Africa. We have received a few very very poor quality photos which indicate that there had been a great deal of rain, which might well have played a part in the overturn.

The police have opened an inquest into the incident and said that its investigation is likely to last around a week.
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It it is said to have been rigged with full boom and jib, much of which came down on the site offices and car park