A new 100 tonne All Terrain crane belonging to BossLift overturned last week in Ireland when the road gave way under the crane as it traveled the last mile or two to a remote job location.
The company has provided an initial report about what happened and hopes that others might benefit from the information. The recovery work is progressing.
In the words of letter from BossLift:
“Please see attached some photos of our Grove GMK4100L crane that ‘rolled over’ last Thursday evening. We are all very quick to publish our ‘good news’ stories (eg, new crane arrivals, recent project awards, pictures of spectacular lifts and events we are involved in) but the reality is that events like this incident happen us all and if we all were to share our ‘bad news’ stories it might serve to :
1. Highlight the risks to some who may not know.
2. Maybe help avoid a similar event occurring to another company.
3. Detail the impact an event like this has on A) a small company like ours B) those involved in the recovery operation & C) the Environment.
4. Discuss preventative measures.”
“The crane was being escorted along a route that was unfit to carry it, and despite HEROIC efforts by the operator to save it – the road split and he hadn’t a chance.
Our operators are told that, in the event of road subsidence – make every effort to extend the outriggers on the ‘good side’ and the if the ground is good enough to carry the crane for such time that 1 x (or better with 2) excavators can be sourced to apply weight on the outriggers – this acts as a levering effect that will stabilise the crane and in many cases be sufficient to allow the crane to be removed using crab steer. (this is the best tip I can offer any crane user – it should be discussed with all operators as it DOES work).
So no – the crane wasn’t driving with its outriggers extended as I have heard said – what a ridiculous, ill-informed comment.
The crane is upright again after four days of hard work by a fantastic team of lads, but it will be a further three to four days before the operation is complete to allow time to safely remove the recovery crane and winch vehicle, gather up all the equipment that was required, and to reinstate the surrounding area to leave it as it was prior to the incident.
I will issue a full report in the coming days, but I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who helped with the recovery, the many offers of help and assistance, texts and e-mails of support etc, and also to advise the ‘haters’ that you should not laugh at others misfortune because it is very true that this is indeed, ‘out there waiting on us all’.”
Cathal McNally
BOSSLIFT
