12.01.2008

Crane topples onto Lakeview library

A boom truck tipped onto its side at the new Tamarack District Library site in Lakeview, Michigan yesterday damaging the structure. No one was hurt in the accident. It seems that the cause was due to inadequate outrigger shoring on poorly drained ground made worse by rain and snow.
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The stricken crane a National Boom truck

A spokesman blamed soft ground conditions for the overturning. Saying: "The area where the crane tipped was an area where the village had had problems with drainage and that's why Fresh Drain needed to be replaced, the water drains from all four directions onto that site."

Elmridge Construction of Grand Rapids is the contractor on the new library which was scheduled for completion by the end of February. However, that is now likely to shift to early summer due to drainage and weather issues.

Vertikal Comment

Sadly this is just one more incident where a scant disregard for the ground conditions and ground bearing pressures has caused an accident that could so easily have been fatal.

While we cannot be sure it looks as though no mats were used in this case and yet the area has been notorious for poor drainage and soft ground not to mention underground drains – it is possible that the outrigger might have punched through into the drain rather than just have sunk into soft mud?

There is no excuse for what is sloppy or ignorant operation.