Results tagged “cranesafety”

Earlier this week, Port Authority said that the construction of buildings, a 9/11 memorial and transit at the World Trade Center site will result in more than 26,000 jobs. And the indirect job—like the ones that "supply services, materials and machinery to the rebuilding effort"—creation may add over 35,000 jobs to that number. That's notable because 30,000 construction jobs are expected to be lost over the next few years. Port Authority Chairman Anthony R. Coscia said, "The World Trade Center rebuilding effort is an economic shot in the arm for our region at a difficult time. This investment in our region's future is also helping us in the present - by creating tens of thousands of jobs and generating billions for our local economy." The WTC project will extend until 2016. Also, the Port Authority agreed to let the NYC Department of Building shut down job sites with unsafe cranes; previously, the PA did not have to surrender to city regulations because it's a NY-NJ state agency. The WTC site has 24 cranes—the most in the city.

After two fatal crane collapses and other accidents, the city issued new rules to improve crane safety. However, construction industry officials tell the NY Times union laborers would be out of work (temporarily), work will be slower, and the Department of Buildings didn't even consult them! For instance, the new rules requires contractors to have manuals for assembling and dismantling cranes, but many operators "don't have those manuals and own cranes whose manufacturers are out of business." A concrete contractor said, "What used to take a week now takes three to four weeks." DOB commissioner Robert LiMandri said these rules were developed with the industry and were included in the City Council's legislation, "Safety must be everyone's top priority."

Yesterday, Department of Buildings acting commissioner Robert LiMandri testified before the House Education and Labor Committee and announced new ways the city would increase crane safety, including inspecting cranes when they change ownership. LiMandri also asked for more OSHA inspectors--who should also be given the power to issue stop-worker orders--noting he was "deeply troubled" by the recent crane collapse deaths, "It is simply impossible for our inspectors to be at every site at all times."

The Department of Buildings confirmed to the Daily News that it found cracks in a crane at a construction site in lower Manhattan. The crane happens to be a Kodiak tower crane owned by New York Crane & Equipment Co.--the same model and firm involved last month's fatal crane collapse at East 91st Street and First Avenue.