06.02.2007

Platform falls through floor

A Genie self propelled boom fell through a hole caused by the collapse of a concrete floor at the David L Lawrence Convention Centre in Pittsburgh, USA.

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The Genie platform after it had fallen through the floor

The 150 mm thick loading dock concrete slab failed under the weight of a tractor trailer unit leaving the truck suspended across the opening and causing the platform to crash 10 metres to the floor below.

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The unmanned platform fell through the hole

Mary Conturo, executive director of the Sports & Exhibition Authority, which owns the convention center, said: "The architect, structural engineer, construction manager and the steel contractor have all been called and will be at the site to assess the situation. We are talking to a crane company about how do we remove the truck."

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The trucks wheels are suspended below the floor

Fortunately, the platform was not being used at the time and no-one was injured in the incident.