23.02.2010

Crane tips in Japan

A Rough Terrain crane tipped over yesterday on the construction site for a new hospital in the town of Komagane, Nagano prefecture, Japan, leaving one man dead and three others injured.

Construction worker Mutsuo Onishi, 30, died after he was trapped under the boom of the toppled crane, three of his workmates suffered serious injuries. The four were working on wiring on the second floor of the building when the crane tipped.
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Local reports suggest that wind speed might have been a factor, although weather reports indicate wind speeds of around seven to nine metres a second.

The crane was rigged with its six section boom fully extended along with its two section jib and was properly set up with good sized outrigger mats. We understand that the crane was lifting a full load at the time, but there was no indication that it was beyond its capacity.

The crane operator was not seriously injured.