10.06.2026

Fatal ground break

Two men died, and another was seriously injured when the ground gave way under the boom lift they were working from in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, last Wednesday.

The men were planning to use the Genie telescopic boom to paint the building located above an underground parking garage at a shopping mall on the west side of the town. The boom was fully retracted and slightly elevated as they drove it into position when the concrete panel below the lift gave way. The lift dropped into the void below, and from what we have been told, the men were catapulted to the ground.

The three were rushed to the hospital, where two of them, 25 and 40, died within 24 hours of arrival. It seems that while badly injured, the third man is expected to survive.

This is yet another case of not checking the ground bearing capacity of such locations. The lift is either a Genie S-65XC or S-85, which weigh 11.5 and 18 tonnes respectively.

There is an argument that when working on a cast concrete surface above a parking garage, it is safer to use a lighter platform, such as a spider lift. So many people's lives are profoundly affected when such incidents occur. Family, friends, and final work colleagues and others on site. Our hearts go out to all of them.

Finally, a big thank you to those based in the area who sent us photos from the scene – hopefully others will learn from this incident