E-Mail from the USA shows need for time consuming crane inspections

[Joesunionreview]

This is a good example of why tower cranes should be thoroughly examined, and more then just once or twice a year. Tower crane examinations require time and contractors are going to have to get used to it. - anonymous crane operator

This crane operator, who after the deadly crane collapse in New York on May 30th., decided when he climbed his 450ft. tower crane that the first thing he was going to do was to check out the bolting system, what he found was distressing, heres part of the story, from Vertikal.net (6/2/08):

Don't put off till tomorrow, what you should do today

Before going to work at 5:15am I watched the news on the most recent NY crane accident and it was immediately apparent to me that the Slew-ring assembly had failed.

The first thing I did when I got to the top of the 450ft (136m) of 2003, tower crane was check the slew-ring bolts with a 2lb beater using minimum force. There are two rows of bolts, each row having 59.

With the crane balanced off, I started with the top row (slew bearing) and when I struck the third bolt it moved (loose), I continued checking and when I came to the 28th bolt it broke in two! I then went back to the bolt that had movement and decided to remove it for inspection, which revealed a severe crack at the same location as the one that sheared off.

Because of finding two bolts with a similar failure and the likelihood that there could be many more, I immediately put the crane out of operation. The manufacturer has been contacted and we're trying to arrange for a "Factory Engineer" to come out and thoroughly examine ALL the bolts, and if needed oversee the replacement of ALL slew-ring bolts. Which is the only certain solution!

Full story at Joe's Union Review
http://anti-union.blogspot.com/2008/06/e-mail-from-usa-shows-need-for-time.html

more crane info at Vertikal.net
http://www.vertikal.net/en/index.php">

[seemslikeadream]

1. Where were the bolts made?

[Deja Q]

2. K-R-A-F-T

Oops, that's the jingle about cheesy cheese. I mean, C-H-I-N-A.

[seemslikeadream]

3. It is one thing for me to get pissed every time I try a tighten a screw

and it breaks, I don't lose my life. I know about crappy screws made in China.

[Joesunionreview]

4. now theres someone after my own thinking...

unfortunately, if they aren't maintained/improperly used and/or incorrectly fastened, any bolt will fail.

I would like to see the top of the bolt to see the grade

From my previous article on the recent crane collapse
http://anti-union.blogspot.com/2008/05/crane-collapse-in-new-york-2-dead-2.html

Competing with unregulated, bad contractors, using poorly crafted equipment
The constant pressures of competing with contractors who use undocumented workers is devastating the conditions on all construction sites, everyone is in a frenzy to get the lowest bid against these unscrupulous contractors and to keep themselves employed. Be it cutting corners or rushing to complete a job, the atmosphere is there. There also should be a push to use USA and other highly qualified countries materials and tools on the job sites. Shit, if the dog food ingredients and toys from China contain poison, why is it acceptable to use rigging equipment and steel from that region? A lot of Chinese equipment such as 'shackles' and wire slings do not even have a company name on them. It's up to the rigger to refuse to use them. Thats a terrible burden to put on the worker, who will then be "labeled" a trouble maker and risk losing his job. It should be against the law to use them. Many times we have had "Jet" equipment, such as furniture dollies fail with under weighted loads. The rigging equipment needs to be stringently regulated, especially if it is being used overhead. The 'sweatshop construction' practice needs to be eliminated all together.