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Carl Molesworth

Positive Responses to Crane Shutdowns
June 23, 2008

People around Western Washington have developed a heightened interest in tower crane safety since the crane collapse in downtown Bellevue in November 2006 that killed one person and caused millions of dollars in damage and project delays.

So I have been closely watching how the construction industry has reacted to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries’ action earlier this month to halt operation of three Chinese-made construction tower cranes in the Seattle area. I have to say I’ve been impressed. The contractors and crane company involved reacted quickly to comply with the order and have taken appropriate steps to get on with their projects in a positive manner.

Citing possible electrical and structural problems, L&I asked the general contractors to take the cranes out of service. The action involved Lewis Equipment Co. of Texas, the crane distributor, and the general contractors using the cranes: Lease Crutcher Lewis, with a crane at a construction site at Fifth Avenue and Yesler Way in Seattle; Turner Construction at a site at 1823 Terry Ave. in Seattle; and Lydig Construction at a site at 400 S. 43rd St. in Renton, Wash.

The cranes at the Lease Crutcher Lewis and Turner projects are hybrids: SunCrane, a Chinese company, made the masts and an Italian crane manufacturer, Terex/Comedil, made the other parts. The state requires that tower cranes be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications. SunCrane has approved the hybrid cranes, but the other manufacturer has prohibited use of its parts with any other manufacturer.

Turner’s Terry Avenuecrane was load-tested above normal capacity and passed. Even so, crews began disassembling the crane this past weekend and will rebuild it in a way that meets DLI standards, with all Sun components. Turner also has replaced parts of the electrical system and tested it.

At last report, the Lease Crutcher Lewis crane was still in place but not operating.

“We have a mobile crane on site, so we’re able to continue with the structural decks. But the work activity that’s being impacted is the elevator core,” Jeff Cleator, the contractor’s commercial division manager, told the Seattle Times. “We’re looking at alternative hoisting solutions, including bringing in a larger mobile crane or replacing the crane that’s in place now. Right now the impacts haven’t been so great that we shouldn’t be able to make it without some overtime.”

Until next time …

Posted by Carl Molesworth on June 23, 2008 | Comments (0)