Another Crane Collapse in Manhattan- Page 2

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/30/08 at 11:13am

Yeah, the high-rise construction in Chicago is insane right now, but I haven't heard about any crane accidents here at all. Something seems very fishy in NYC to have so many accidents in such a short period of time.

[KrissySim]

Posted: 5/30/08 at 11:30am

They'll reconstruct the entire crane from the piece and see where the intial breaking point was.

But the real fault is probably in management - human error and human incompetence, cost cutting, time-cutting etc.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/30/08 at 11:31am

From the AP article:

===

A city inspector resigned after his arrest on charges of falsifying business records and offering a false instrument for filing.

In April, the city's buildings commissioner resigned, under fire over a rising number of deadly construction accidents that have left more than 26 construction workers dead in the past year.

Since then, the city has added extra inspections at building sites and required that its staff be on hand whenever the towering cranes were raised higher, a process known as a jump. Those procedures are still being revised.

Construction Crane Falls in Manhattan

[CapnHook]

Posted: 5/30/08 at 12:05pm

I have a friend on 88 + 1. She says it's a bad scene, obviously. Just horrible.

[Mamie]

Posted: 5/30/08 at 12:05pm

There have been crane collapses for a long time. I remember when the high rises were going up in Bailey's Crossroads here and (I think I remember this correctly) there were two bad collapses. In both cases the investigations showed that the owners had pushed (read - PAID) the builders and inspectors to speed up the construction in order to reduce costs.

When concrete is prepared correctly, it hardens in a slow process that involves a chemical reaction between the water and other materials. The mixture creates heat that slows down the hardening process and allows the concrete to 'cook' and sufficiently harden. To speed this process up, the mixture is adjusted so it dries quickly but never sufficiently hardens. Hiking that heavy crane on top of this new concrete places it on a more fragile base - and you see the results.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if it hadn't happened again.

[shameless]

Posted: 5/30/08 at 12:31pm

We've had a couple in Florida too. They're building hundreds of new condos up and down both coasts. I'm surprised that we haven't had more.

Edit: Especially, considering this:

"Florida does not regulate or license tower cranes and crane operators, but Representative Greg Evers is pushing a bill that would require crane operators to undergo training in the physics of picking up loads and in the limits of their equipment."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,341669,00.html

Updated On: 5/30/08 at 12:31 PM

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 5/30/08 at 1:25pm

I live on 1st Ave between 90th and 91st. What is astounding is how quickly things kick into clean up mode. The entire block is literally clogged with cranes and dumpsters whereas three hours ago it was all rescue vehicles and fire trucks.

Yesterday, I was working on an assignment for a photography class I'm taking. The assignment is about contrasts, be it visual or ideas.

I took a photo of a restaurant across the street that showed the delivery guys on the street having much more fun than the patron sitting at the front table. I was pretty pleased with the shot.
What is freaking me out a little is a lot of this morning's tragedy played out in front of the same restaurant...that's where they took the crane operator's body initially. That's where some of the rescue workers took off their helmets in a moment of respect. And that's where the FDNY chaplain comforted the crew chief, who then comforted the widow (?) of the man who died.

Now, the very same spot is filled with bright red rolling dumpsters.

Quite a visual commentary about life marching on...

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 5/30/08 at 1:31pm

I hate to think of the city having opportunities to 'get good' at this kind of clean up.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/30/08 at 1:36pm

There HAVE been a couple crane accidents in the loop here, Matt. Just in the last couple of months, as a matter of fact. Nothing of this magnitude, but one was on Monroe near Wabash and I walked by it the day after. It was in the alley between buildings and not right on the street, which is fortunate, but it does happen and still could at any moment. They way buildings are going up around here it is a wonder it does not happen more frequently.

I am glad you are fine, flit. Use the photos. There is your contrast, Life/Death in a day same shot.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/30/08 at 1:39pm

Glad you're okay, iflit. I have a friend at 89th between 1st and York. He's okay too.

The crane in March was 2 blocks from my apartment.

These things are so close to us.

Updated On: 5/30/08 at 01:39 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/30/08 at 1:40pm

Sueleen - I had no idea! I don't remember hearing a thing about them. Crap! I've been worried about a particular crane in my neighborhood, but I'm moving soon. Unfortunately, it's out of the frying pan and into the fire, crane-wise.

[KrissySim]

Posted: 5/30/08 at 1:42pm

iflitifloat, or anyone else in NYC;

Is there a possibility that these aren't accidents? I mean, with so many occurring, either people haven't gotten proper training or there is such gross mismanagement and negligence it's hard to understand... or else something else is going on like organized crime.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 5/30/08 at 2:00pm

I was a block away (2nd Ave), in the shower when it happened...had to stay in the city last night.

I didnt hear anything, until I was getting dressed and the sirens started...there was a busload of kids screaming, I think they saw what happend waiting for the bus...then cops showed up and got them on the bus.

The freakiest thing was 1. not knowing what was happening and 2. the helicopters...there were so many I couldnt count! Glad I got to the subway.

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/30/08 at 2:26pm

A friend of mine and I were just discussing this and she wondered if it could be the company that makes the cranes not being up to par. No, I said, because why aren't the cranes made by that company falling all over the country? We have a bunch of these accidents right in NYC.

As I said before, I think it's incompetance and carelessness. It's disgusting and making me sick.

[thatgirl712]

Posted: 5/30/08 at 2:38pm

Very dangerous.

[nygrl23]

Posted: 5/30/08 at 3:20pm

A friend's dad is a housing inspector, and he is constantly offered bribes by landlords. He never takes them-in fact, he reports every single one who does this. The landlords find out they've been reported, but nothing comes of it. It's just the same scene every time.

[DG]

Posted: 5/31/08 at 9:04pm

"NEW YORK - Building department officials gathered for an emergency safety summit Saturday after the city's second deadly crane collapse in recent weeks, while lawmakers warned of dangers in New York's building boom — especially the 250 cranes still up in the sky."
Link to article.