Safety

For nearly a year, it’s become a familiar landmark, visible from most points in south Glenwood Springs. JE Dunn Construction’s massive, royal-blue tower crane may be the tallest contraption in the sky. But don’t get too used to seeing it.

Self-erecting cranes are helping build an apartment complex in downtown Indianapolis, Ind. The contractor, Larry R Wagler Construction, chose the cranes for their easy assembly and ability to operate in limited space. Larry Wagler, owner of the company, has used self-erecting cranes since 2006 and finds Potain self-erecting cranes indispensible for the type of framing work his company does, which is primarily building commercial properties in crowded urban areas.

If you’ve been keeping up with the latest news and press releases, then you already know that Elite Sales Inc. is constantly introducing new ideas and innovation into the world of industrial rigging equipment.

A brand new tower crane went over last week in Mumbai, India landing on a residential apartment block. The crane collapsed at a job in the Haji Kasam Chawl area of the city, and is said to have injured up to six people. At least three of which were immediately rushed to hospital.

A lattice boom crane has overturned at the Port of Invergordon in Scotland this afternoon, thankfully no one was injured in the incident.

Salzburg, Austria-based Palfinger continues to make design enhancements to its articulating boom cranes, which are available in North America through Palfinger Inc., Niagara Falls, Ontario. The latest development—High Performance Stability Control (HPSC)—has most recently been added to the PK 78002 SH and PK 65002 SH models, which are the two largest models in the SH product line. The PK 78002 SH has a lifting moment of 74.7 tonne-meters. Equipped with up to eight hydraulic extensions, it achieves a hydraulic outreach of 20.4 meters.

A 500 ton All Terrain crane has overturned at the National Cathedral in Washington DC. The crane a 500 ton Liebherr, the flagship of Maryland based Crane Service Company, had been assisting with repair work on the cathedral from damage caused during the recent earthquake. It was rigged with almost full luffing jib and Y-Guy boom support system and had just placed a load of steelwork onto the cathedral roof.

Effective July 8, 2011, OSHA has updated its regulations for slings for both general industry (1901.184) and construction (1926.251). According to a memo from the Association of Crane and Rigging Professionals, a summary of the key changes are as follows. The full regulation can be viewed at: http://www.osha.gov/FedReg_osha_pdf/FED20110608.pdf.

A crane travelling to a wind farm site came off the road this weekend causing detours of up to 80 miles. The crane was travelling on the A822 towards the Griffin wind farm in Aberfeldy when the side of the road gave way causing its near side wheels to slip into a ditch.

Hand over hand, one rung at a time, a visitor arrives panting and pouring sweat at the office of Kirk Luba, 180 feet above terra firma. It’s the catbird seat of a Liebherr 316, one of four giant tower cranes doing the heavy lifting on the Memorial Stadium project.