28.03.2016
Storm takes crane jib
The jib of a luffing tower crane in South East London was blown over the back last night when Storm Katie roared across south east England, with winds in excess of 70mph.
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Only one of the three cranes was caught
The crane was one of three Comedils working on a Bouyges job site in Greenwich. The other two cranes survived the high winds, and no one was hurt or injured in the incident. Although some residents were evacuated from a nearby building in the early hours of this morning.
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The jib caught the went over back
JCM AP
Totally agree with Mike 74, structurally the Comedil is more robust than comparable (Wolfkrann, Liebherr, Potain)and this should not have happened. There may have been tie issues that could have lead to this but can't see from the picture if TC is tied, on grillage or solid RC base
It seems like someone was in a rush for the Easter break...
Mike74
Well, judging from the direction in which the two surviving Terex-Comedill TCLs stand in relevance to the damaged machine, the reason seem to be a common one - a crane left with it's sleving brake on (probably the jib at steep angle), and hit by a strong frontal gust. I do not see the wind sail on the boom, but it seems to have been long enough to do without it. Might be worth noting that judging form my experience, the electrical weathervaing systems seem to be pretty susceptible to failures, and I learned not to trust them many years ago.
Diesel
Another sad day for the tower crane industry but thankfully nobody injured as far as I am aware. Agree with Gideon, some action needs to be taken, there are cranes at ridiculous heights now and unsure how this is being achieved.
Gideon
Yet another luffing crane gone over. Have HSE completed their investigations of previous luffing crane incidents in the UK?