20.03.2008

NYC inspects every crane

City officials have started inspecting every tower crane in use around New York City after a crane collapsed and killed seven people last weekend.

Buildings Department spokeswoman Kate Lindquist says the inspections began yesterday, with 253 cranes to check, and Lindquist says it's not clear how long the process will take.

Six construction workers and a 28 year old tourist were killed when the crane broke away from an apartment tower under construction in midtown Manhattan.

A recent article by the American Society Of Safety Engineers (ASSE) reveals that statistics estimate between 64 and 82 construction workers are killed and 263 injured each year working around cranes and derricks.

ASSE members note that crane accidents are more likely to cause injuries and/or death than most other types of equipment and that comprehensive training for crane operators is a must when it comes to preventing fatalities and injuries.