08.07.2009

A classic outrigger case

We don’t always hear about tip-overs due to the lack of proper cribbing or mats, but here is another case, this time from a company that knows better - Mediaco.

The accident appears to have occurred in December, in the centre of Reims, France, the four axle truck mounted lift was working on the renovation of the roof of the towns income tax centre, when the outriggers punched through the pavement (sidewalk) causing the lift to tip. The machine’s boom came to rest on the roof and the emergency services were called in.
Click here to see video footage
The lift a 50 metre plus unit, is owned by Mediaco’s Mediac’up division, France’s largest crane rental company, which has an excellent record for safety and good practice. However in this case the operator had clearly not used appropriate mats or cribbing under the outrigger pads, which given the fact that most pavements in France are equipped with waste water drainage ducts, was a tad foolhardy.

No mention is made in the report about the occupants of the platform, one assumes that they were evacuated by the fire ladder?? Mediaco sent in two All Terrain cranes and with the help of the fire service a sling was fitted to the base boom section allowing the unit to be up righted and rescued,

The damage to the lift looks to be negligible to non existent, over 200 people were evacuated from the tax offices and had to wait until the recovery was completed.

Vertikal Comment

Why well trained operators of larger truck mounted lifts fail to put down proper spreader mats every time, but especially when working on pavements, is a mystery.

While the use of spreader mats or cribbing will not guarantee safety in every case it is a very rare occasion that outriggers punch through the ground when they are used. In fact I am not sure we have ever seen a case.