30.08.2007

Manhole failure tips boom

A man suffered serious injuries earlier today after the large articulated boom he was working on tipped over sideways in Nottingham city centre.
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The stricken Boom lift today

A fire and rescue spokeswoman said crews were called to the scene at Milton Street near the Victoria Centre at about 12:40 today.
The local Fire and Rescue service said: that the likely cause was the failure of a manhole cover under one of the booms wheels.

An eye witness said that he heard a loud bang, a shout and then “the whole thing just dropped down."

Fortunately the boom did not reach the far pavement which was packed with people. It appears that the man was working around 60ft up in an 80 ft machine when it went over.

Vertikal Comment

This accident just shows how important it is to watch where you are going with any self propelled lift or crane. Any training course, not to mention the machine manual always say walk the course you plan to drive before going up in the air.

A street manhole cover looks like a very solid item indeed, and it is but when a solid poly filled tyre with between four and five tonnes on it, possibly more, there is a real chance that it will give way, especially if it is a lightweight pavement drain cover.

Either way you just cannot risk it, such items will give way suddenly adding a dynamic force to the tilt of the machine.