24.03.2009

Crane tips in Manchester

A mobile crane belonging to Hewden crane hire, tipped over yesterday at a building site in Manchester city centre, thankfully no one was injured and the operator escaped unhurt.
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The fallen crane note that the outriggers have dropped into the wall

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The crane was working from a narrow elevated lane

The four axle All Terrain crane tipped over sideways while working with around 25 metres of so of boom, from a narrow elevated lane on Oxford Road and Hulme Street where a new hotel is being built.
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The boom narrowly missed a drill

The crane's boom landed in the nearby river and prevented it from tumbling into the basement. A ladder was used to help the operator climb out of the cab and he was able to walk away from the accident.
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The boom came to rest in the river

Police and the Health and Safety Executive have launched an investigation into what happened

Vertikal Comment

First indications suggest that the outriggers gave way causing the crane to overturn, photographs indicated they were set up with shoring under the pads, and variable widths, but it appears the ground gave way behind the wall of the basement.