03.05.2017
100t overturn
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 travelled the last mile or two to a remote job location.
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The road gave way under the weight of the crane causing it to slip slowly into the ditch
The company has provided an initial report about what happed 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.
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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
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The recovery underway
Vertikal Comment
We applaud Cathal McNally’s willingness to share this information and highlight again what can go wrong .We will follow up when the full report is issued, but in the meantime the letter appears to be self explanatory,
Bosslift Crane Rental
Cavan Rd
Cootehill
Cavan, Republic of Ireland.
Good Afternoon Mr McNally,
Thank you for your prompt report on the Rollover of your excellent new Grove 4100L Crane. You personally are to be congratulated for having the Courage of your Convictions in reporting this incident. Other Crane Companies worldwide should follow your marvellous example.
Please be assured that no-one ( none ) takes any pleasure whatsoever in your Misfortune. Moreover having Researched and Recorded 419 Crane and/or Lifting Fatalities Worldwide since 010907. I support your view that Worker Safety must be the primary consideration at all times and was delighted to hear that the Crane Driver above was un-injured after this potentially fatal incident.
Having travelled widely in the West of Ireland, I confirm your assertion that many roads are unsuitable for Cranes with Axle Weights of 12 tonne plus. For example the R.230 Road from Glencolumnkille to Ardara, Narrow in Summer, but Treacherous in Winter especially the ice covered Downhill S bends on Glengesh Pass.
Personally I always do a Route Survey and RAMS before taking on difficult tasks.
So as Worker Safety is very important, please identify who are the ? Haters ' ?
Kind Regards
Mike Ponsonby
No mention here of the operator , was he O.K. ?
tackb
well done cathal for attempting to break the usual cover up process employed by less reputable companies!
your a credit to the industry
Tmayes
Fair play to Bosslift and Cathal for making this public to hopefully prevent it happening to another company, what this also does is stops the jungle drums of social media from banging away.
Shame other companies don't do this rather than spending more time and effort trying to cover it up and threatening the staff with their jobs if it got out.
Hopefully Mr McNally has started a trend now.
Red
To me, extending the outriggers on the good side, by themselves, appears useless. It could take hours to get excavators onsite to counterweight them and hold the crane down. Depending on the angle of the crane, I would think one should make an attempt to at least run the outriggers on the bad side down, and then try to extend one of the outrigger beams at least incrementaly.