11.09.2015

Report raises tower crane concerns

The State Coroner’s Court of New South Wales in Australia has published its report on the incident in which the engine of a large Favelle Favco luffing jib tower crane caught fire and caused the jib to drop onto adjacent buildings.

The report is first class and makes a good number of sensible recommendations, the most critical of which is the fitting of fire retardant hydraulic suction and pressure hoses to all diesel powered tower cranes - both new and existing - and the installation of more, larger and appropriate fire extinguishers.

His report also praises the crane owner Marr Contracting, The contactor Lend Lease which also provided operated the crane, and the crane operator Glen May. Although she does also suggest ways in which both companies might make improvements – advice that has already been acted on.
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One end of the platform broke away from its mast

The investigation found that The 200 tonne Favelle Favco crane developed a fire in its engine bay, the driver was alerted of the fact via radio, by the signaller on the ground. He turned off the engine and took an extinguisher to the engine compartment but struggled to see its origin due to sounds insulation material.

When the extinguisher was empty and the fire began to grow he descended the tower. During his climb down the luffing jib cables burnt through and the job dropped onto University Buildings on the edge of the site. See original report on vertikal.net
While the investigators cannot be certain, they feel that that fire started when a spray of hydraulic oil or diesel struck came into contact with a hot object such as the turbo charger and started the fire. The hydraulic suction hose then caught fire and dumped between 450 and 600 litres of oil onto the flames crating an intensity that destroyed the luffing jib cables. Thankfully around 1,000 litres of diesel was stored lower down and did not catch. The fire eventually burnt out. No one was hurt in the incident.

The report is well worth reading and is not too long, nor at all tedious, there are many lessons to be learnt and not only by diesel powered tower crane owners and operators. The lessons apply across a far wider range of equipment. Click on this link www.coroners.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/UTS to go directly to the report. We will also seek permission to add it to our on-line library.