Good Samaritans and Crane Warning Systems
After having spent many years as an arborist, Danny Tomas started out on his journey as an entrepreneur. His company, Sustainable Tree Care, boasts a flawless safety record until recently. Last Sunday afternoon though, things changed when the crane he was operating during a storm-damaged tree removal job, toppled over. Three cars, a travel trailer, and a home were damaged in the accident but luckily no one was injured or hurt.
Tomas didn’t expect the crane accident and stated that he had done this sort of job many times, and an incident like this had never occurred before.
Tomas could not say for sure what made the crane trip over but he suspected that the limb he was attempting to lift was heavier than expected. While Tomas does have some random theories as to the cause of the accident, it’s only after speaking with some experts that he may be able to understand the real cause.
Tomas, on his part, spoke to the insurance company to get resolution for all who suffered damage due to the accident. While Tomas has also compensated his neighbors from his own pocket for the time being, he understands that this isn’t a solution for the long term.
One of those affected by the accident was Sandy Beard. Sandy’s minivan was completely destroyed in the accident and she stated that Tomas went out of his way to help her. With the cause of the accident unclear, the insurance claim may take some time. OSHA is investigating the cause of the accident and the investigation should be complete within the next six months.
Crane accidents, though not frequent, do occur more than we all want. While you can never predict such incidents beforehand, as a crane operator or crane owner there are certain measures you can take to assure the safety of your equipment and those around you. Parts such as the PAT Hirschmann Cable Reel integrated with a Load Moment Indicator system inform the operator about the load which is being moved, along with many other details which are necessary for safe lifting operations of heavy and bulky objects.
Most of the crane accidents can be avoided as their occurrence is often the result of improper use or low-quality load safety equipment. While crane operator play a great role by remaining vigilant when carrying out the lift, using crane warning systems is as important as a good and experienced operator.
Reference: http://www.wfla.com/story/26842706/crane-operator-talks-about-horrifying-accident
