This week saw another crane overturn while attempting to lift tree parts from the rear of a private home.
This time it was in Mount Vernon, Illinois in the USA, the crane, owned by Schomaker Crane Service of Nashville, Illinois, was assisting Davis Tree service in the removal of a 30 metre high ash tree. The team cut through a section of the tree and the crane began to lift, only to teeter on its outriggers and then as the tree section swung out to a greater radius over the crane went.
The crane itself, a three axle Link Belt, was well set up with outriggers full set on a decent set of mats and a full counterweight in place. The tree parts were simply too heavy for the boom length and radius.
The tree and the crane’s boom landed on the roof of the house causing significant damage, and it all brought down some overhead power lines, which thankfully had been de-energised during the lift. No one was injured of hurt in the incident.
Vertikal Comment
We have flogged this subject to death over the past few months, yet it keeps on happening. Trees are heavier than people think and unpredictable why oh why do crane owners not get that message!
Either send a much bigger crane than needed or insist and make sure that the tree service employees remove it in smaller pieces, if not you are better leaving this type of work to others.
Author: Unknown
Source:
