Boom Lift Fatality

[scotspine1]

We've used these Genie Boom type lifts for tree removal with great results, so was a little concerned to read this story.

 

Photos below text

 

A man died yesterday after the boom lift he was working in toppled over after a wheel broke through a manhole cover, in Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

 

The lift was being used by a man to inspect the steeple of the First Presbyterian Church at 21st and Walnut Streets. The operator was steering the machine, which was telescoped to its full 120ft (37 metres) height, when one of the wheels went over an electrical cable manhole cover which gave way.

 

The boom lifts wheel broke through a manhole cover

 

Witnesses say that the lift, a recent model JLG 1200SJP owned by Interstate Aerials, tilted over, recovered sending the boom the other way it tilted again and the second time went over, with the boom striking a building opposite before landing on a parked utility truck. The operator was wearing a harness and was left suspended from his lanyard.

 

He was rushed to hospital where he later died from his injuries, a woman passer by was also injured. The falling lift also caused considerable damage to street lights and signs

 

Editors Comment

 

This is a very rare type of accident, a boom such as this will sometime recover from such an incident and as long as the operator has a harness on he stands a good change of surviving.

 

Sadly he clearly had not seen the manhole cover on the ground before going up, or from the platform as he manoeuvred. Checking the ground conditions before driving such a machine from such a height is essential, and will normally prevent such an accident occurring.

Edited October 16, 2009 by scotspine1

[Buzz]

Operator error ! Check the ground and check again, a proper risk assessment should have prevented this. Very sad.

[Al Smith]

That big JLG which by the way stands for John L Groves,maker of Grove cranes ,more than likely weighs around 8 tons or more .

[David Humphries]

Good post Tim,

a timely reminder for the pro MEWPS to, as Matt quiet rightly points out; carry out a thourough site audit and R/A which should be essential parts of even the most casual of users safety hierachies.

 

And alas, also an addition to the Non MEWP users arsenal, in the ongoing debate.

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

Very sad indeed.

 

 

 

 

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[Tree Man Tom]

Sad news, ive always thought it would be a problem with those types of MEWP, being able to move them so easily you could become complacent and not check the posistion of the wheels. I also feel MEWPS are dodgy when used in graveyards, sods law i would put a stabiliser leg over an old grave, it would collapse and over id go.

[Kev Stephenson]

Have to agree with Ed on this, surely while he was moving this at 120ft his groundie/banksman would have noticed the manhole and let him know. Assuming he had one!!

[John Hancock]

Absolute waste of a good life, which could have so easily been avoided. We all grumble about all the H&S regulations in this country – but they are there for a purpose - this brings it home.

[Tommy_B]

I'm not an expert on MEWPs by any means but wouldn't it be easier to lower it down to even half height to transport it/shift position? It wouldn't take that much longer would it? Is that correct protocol for these? Surely moving anything at 120ft extension is going to have trouble remaining stable?

 

BTW I'm not picking fault or mocking this sad news, I would genuinley like to know.

 

Cheers

 

Tom:001_smile:

[Mesterh]

Sad story and total waste of a life.

 

I have used one of those machines a couple of times but always lower the basket right down before moving.

 

Wouldnt even think about moving it at anything like 120ft:scared1:

[John Hancock]

Its ridiculous that 1. The MEWP was being manoeuvred while fully extended

2.The MEWP is capable of being driven while extended.

3. Where was the banksman????