15.09.2018

Two injured at Platformers

Two men were injured today when the boom of a truck mounted lift buckled at platformers Days in Germany.

The incident occurred this morning when the top boom of a CTE MP32:19 was fully extended and the telescopic jib partially extended, the mid section buckled close to the base section. The platform did not reach the ground, but came to rest against a spider lift and we understand that the two, one in his 50s and the other in his 60s were wearing harnesses and appropriate lanyards, which may well have saved their lives.
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The mid section of the top boom

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The jib and basket came to rest against a spider lift

They were in a stable condition and both talking, although one of them sustained slightly more serious injuries than the other. They were airlifted to a local hospital. On the more positive side both men are alive and coherent and may well have escaped with lacerations and bruising, it could so easily have been so much worse, with fatalities and passing pedestrians involved.

The organisers have decided not to close the event, which finishes later, today on the recommendations of the authorities and safety advisors.

We sincerely hope that both men make a quick and full recovery, and sympathy must also go to the CTE/France Elevateur team manning the stand, they will clearly be suffering as well, from what is a very traumatic occurrence.

UPDATE
Sunday ...We have had the good news that both men have been discharged from hospital and are OK.

UPDATE 2
CTE has now issued a statement concerning the incident it is published in full below:

"CTE MP 32.19 at Platformers’ Days

CTE S.p.A. informs its Customers and the Market that the causes of the incident occurred during Platformers' Days 2018 Show on the France Elevateur Deutschland Stand are to be attributed to an incorrect and non-agreed use of the prototype CTE MP 32.19, by a non CTE S.p.A. authorized operator, and not imputable to defects in the design or production of the platform.

As already known, the two operators which were in the basket suffered only minor injuries and were discharged quickly from Hospital.

The truck-mounted platform CTE MP 32.19, as well as all the other aerial platforms designed and produced by CTE S.p.A. over the last thirty years with the brands ZED, B-LIFT and TRACCESS, have been designed to meet the strictest international design and safety standards for work at height"