07.11.2006

Worker falls dismantling tower crane

An experienced tower crane erector, Arne Fliginger, 45, of Wyoming, Minnesota, a long time subcontractor to Northwest Tower Cranes of Eagan, Minnesota, fell around 130 metres- 35 stories- to his death yesterday while dismantling the last crane on a luxury apartment block in Minneapolis, USA.

Fliginger was part of a four-member crew, and was apparently on a catwalk conecting the tower to the building near the top of the 40-story Carlyle Condominiums.
The catwalk had a handrail so it is a mystery how Fliginger, a Developers and OSHA officials said it wasn't immediately clear how the highly experienced "iron worker" came to fall.
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The tower cranes on the Carlyle Condominiums

Fliginger's 22-year-old son, Ryan, also an ironworker, was working on the site and witnessed the fall.

This is the second worker to die from a fall on the site. In September 2005 a man fell at least four floors down an open shaft. Opus, the main contractor was fined $25,000 for that violation.