Featured Articles

A Christchurch lawyer managed to retrieve documents from the earthquake-hit Forsyth Barr building using a crane. Grant Cameron was granted access to the sixth floor of the 17-storey building on March 16 to retrieve essential documents.

The 59-storey tower has suffered several delays and internal problems since construction began in 2006 and in late-2009, Hill International took over management of the project

Accidents, incidents and near miss-events occur on construction sites every year and they are 100 percent preventable. Here are 5 critical steps that will reduce your risk:

A hire firm boss has admitted a mobile crane that leaked oil on the A92 before a fatal car crash was not safe for the road. Lawrence Whyte, 40, of Ellon-based William Whyte Cargo Handlers, initially told the inquiry in Stonehaven Sheriff Court that he believed the crane was roadworthy. But he went on to admit it was not when shown the condition of some of its parts.

A four axle truck crane was turning at an intersection and hit a 71 year old lady, who died later in hospital. Witnesses say that the driver was not speeding or driving recklessly and there is absolutely no suggestion that there was anything wrong with the crane.

The International Sign Association has added a Mobile Crane Operator Safety Certification Training class in Altoona, Pa. ISA also has partnered with The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO), which has agreed to administer tests the day following the completion of training. The tests will be held in the same location as the training. ISA will conduct the Altoona course May 25-28 and one in Pittsburgh April 20-23. Dozens of other courses will take place around the country throughout the year. Visit www.signs.org/cranetraining for the full 2011 crane-training schedule.

A man has died after a crane dropped a concrete panel on him in Kitchener, Ontario, just west of Toronto, Canada yesterday, it was the second incident on the site in two weeks. The man aged 42 suffered severe head injuries when the concrete slab fell as it was being lifted off of a truck by a tower crane. The ministry of labour suggested that poor rigging may have been to blame. The company responsible for the site is Tricar Developments.

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A reader from the USA has sent us an example of what some riggers will get up to when the right equipment is not to hand. We don’t have the full details of where this happened, probably for good reason thought, on a large site two riggers were connecting up what looks like some kind of pile puller and other heavy attachments and having no purpose, made a sling, they decided to use a length of old cable in multiple wraps with the ends clamped.

Article from Industrial Lift & Hoist on the topic of Sythetic Sling Care. While this is an effective way of lifting objects, proper care must be taken by the rigger. Educates reader on the difference between cutting and abrasion and the different types of protection for both.