22.07.2009

Another outrigger mat example 'Updated'

A truck mounted lift had a narrow escape in Edinburgh, Scotland, when one of its outriggers punched through the road.
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No mats had been used

The lift was operating in a very narrow lane with the failed outrigger clearly set up in an area where you would expect to find a void such as a basement underneath.
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The lift was set up close to a void

The lift teetered on two or three legs and came to rest against the building, as far as we understand no one was injured and the damage was minor. No outrigger mats or cribbing had been used.
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Whilke the boom appears to have come to rest against the building, little or no damage seems to have been done

The lift is owned by local rental company 1st Platform Rentals.

The company has now replied to our requests for information, saying that the unit concerned was out on a three week Self drive contract and was supposed to have been in Aberdeen.

The comany has come back to us subsequently with a solicitors letter saying that it occurred on or around December 2006 and that its team that went to the site were able to recover the unit using the emergency lower controls and that no damage was done to the building or the machine itself.

The company also said: “Since the date of the incident in 2006, the company has issued risk assessments and method statements to all users of its access vehicles and specifically in relation to the use of ‘spreader pads’ which must be used at all times.”

“It has also instructed all users in relation to the importance of spreader pads and that their access vehicles must not be set up on straight down jack operation as this usually entails narrow lanes and the lack of solid foundations for the pads to go onto and restriction to the user to gain access to install and remove the pads.”



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Vertikal Comment

It is hard to understand why good sized outrigger mats were not used in this application, especially given the fact that what looks like a brand new lift is being used in a city centre location alongside a building that is almost certain to have old basements, cellars or catacombs.

We are of course assuming that this lift was provided with an operator, given its size and the applicaiton. However it is entirely possible that it was sent out on a self drive or rehire and that the operator was not employed by the rental company.