Crane Collapses and Construction Injuries

The construction industry is understandably a hazardous one. Workers regularly deal with heavy loads, powerful machines, high voltages, dangerous chemicals, and high heights – all of which are significant risk factors for worker injury. Even with proper safety precautions, injuries can still occur in many different ways.

Some accidents, however, ought to be preventable. On May 30, 2008, a construction crane at a Manhattan site collapsed, tearing into a nearby apartment building, killing the crane operator and another worker, and forcing the evacuation of thousands of residents. Investigations into the matter revealed that the crane’s turntable had snapped. A month and a half earlier, the same crane had failed an initial load test, prompting a halt in construction. However, after it successfully navigated a second test, work was resumed and the first result was ignored.

Could this accident have been prevented? Ironically, May’s collapse came just two months after another crane collapse in New York City. As a result of the first incident, in which seven people were killed, an inspector was charged with failing to perform his duties and the city government vowed to restructure the city’s Buildings Department. One cannot help but wonder if the publicized “shake-up” really accomplished its goals.

Cranes are incredibly large machines which lift enormously heavy loads – often over the heads of workers, residents, and nearby pedestrians. Unlike some construction accidents, a crane collapse threatens not only the workers, but the lives and livelihoods of anyone in the surrounding area.

A construction accident can happen anywhere something is being built. If you or someone you love was injured in a construction accident or crane collapse, contact Wausau construction injury lawyer today at 715-387-4242 to learn about your legal options.