11.12.2013

Crane owner and operator face criminal charges

The owner of a marine contractor that had a crane overturn in May, and its operator are now facing criminal charges.

The company, Concavage Marine Contractors of Port Chester, New York was fined $165,000 in a federal court last week for ‘wilful and serious workplace safety violations’ following an incident in Stamford Harbour Marina, Connecticut, last May. That case was prosecuted by OSHA, and now State Police are pressing criminal charges against the owner and crane operator. Click here to see Crane flips in Connecticut

A state crane inspector claimed the crane lacked several safety devices, including boom stops that might have prevented the boom from going over the back. It also lacked any inspection documentation, four-year flotation device inspection and other requirements for cranes working from barges. The crane was also not registered for operation in Connecticut

Company owner Nicholas Concavage, 55, faces two misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment and a single charge of operating an unregistered crane. Crane operator Richard Dufresne, 45, has been charged with reckless endangerment and operating a crane without a licence. The two were released after signing written promises to appear in court in January.
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Pulling a pile catapulted the boom over the back of the crane

The crane was extracting damaged piles from a barge, when it flipped over backwards, striking one boat, with the boom landing on another. No one was hurt in the incident.