09.06.2008

Another outrigger example

A truck crane that had set up on extremely wet ground with inadequate cribbing under the outriggers tipped over last week in Hong Kong.

The four axle Kato crane was lifting a bundle of 20 reinforcing bars when the ground under one of the rear outriggers gave way. The crane tipped causing the bars, which were around 10 metres up, to slip out of their rigging and shoot through the wall of a house and an adjoining gate house like spears.

The boom then came to rest on the roof of a three story house. The accident happened on a construction site in Sai Kung in Hong Kong last Wednesday morning.
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The crane after the accident

The 64-year-old crane operator leapt out of crane to escape injury and no one was hurt in the accident.

Vertikal Comment

We have probably said enough on this issue over the past 12 months or so, but look at the ground conditions, it is hardly surprising that extra precautions should have been taken.

In all likelihood the operator is unlikely to have had sufficient matting to cope with such soft ground conditions where came after torrential rains in the region. It is at times like this when even experienced operators are tempted to take risks.