Crane Fire in Australia Has Ties to NY Crane Company
The same company linked to the collapse of a NYC crane in the wake of hurricane Sandy is in the news for a crane which caught fire in downtown Sydney, Australia recently. Land Lease reports that no one was injured when their crane caught fire, but Sydney industry officials are taking extra precautions to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
According to CBS News, the crane fire happened at the University of Technology Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology. The cab caught fire and burned as the operator climbed down the ladder, managing to avoid injury. After burning, the crane collapsed.
Though no one was injured, several hundred people were evacuated from the area as a precautionary measure, no doubt preventing possible tragedy.
As a result, an emergency meeting was held with industry officials in Sydney, who all agreed that there needs to be better oversight on crane safety—including inspections every time a crane is used, rather than only once per year.
The fire, it’s believed, was caused by leaking hydraulic fluid spilling onto the crane’s engine. The investigation is ongoing.
WorkCover, a “safety watchdog” organization in Sydney said it would be working together with industry officials to ensure workers are safe when working in or around cranes.
When crane accidents happen, the potential for injuries or even death is huge. These tall, heavy, and hulking machines present unique dangers to those who operate them and to those who merely work in their presence. As we saw when the other Land Lease crane dangled after Sandy, evacuations can prevent serious accidents, but only when the danger is caught in time.
When it comes to large equipment like construction cranes, the operator and the job supervisor are just a few of those responsible for safety. And when any party drops the ball, so to speak, on crane safety, everyone is at risk for a horrible accident.
The crane accident lawyers of Ginarte in New York and New Jersey know the risks are high in the construction industry—particularly where large equipment and machines are concerned. If you’ve been hurt in a construction accident, contact us today to discuss your legal options.
