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De Blasio Calls For New Safety Measures In Wake Of Tribeca Crane Collapse
By
Scott Heins
Published Feb 7, 2016
Modified Feb 7, 2016
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By
Scott Heins
Published Feb 7, 2016
Modified Feb 7, 2016
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Stressing that "no building is worth a person's life," Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled a plan Sunday for tighter citywide safety regulations on construction cranes. The Mayor's four-point plan comes two days after a 565-foot crawler crane toppled onto Worth Street in Tribeca, killing one and injuring three others.
In a statement, the Mayor's office declared that all crawler cranes must cease operation and go into safety mode when winds exceeding 20 MPH (or gusts exceeding 30 MPH) are forecasted. In such cases, construction crane engineers will be sent advisories by the Department of Buildings. Any crane site found to be in violation of these safety measures will be fined $10,000—double the previous amount.
Additionally, the NYPD, FDNY, DOB, and Department of Transportation will keep a closer watch on sidewalk and street closures in areas where cranes are being used. Plus, operators will be required to notify nearby businesses and residents whenever they plan to move a crane.
Last Friday, the de Blasio ordered that all of the city's 376 in-use crawler cranes be inspected before being used any further. "We are going to ensure the record boom in construction and growth does not come at the expense of safety,” the Mayor said in his statement.
Early forensic evidence points to a 40 MPH gust of wind as the primary cause of the Tribeca crane collapse. It's owner, Bay Crane, has been sued multiple times in the past over faulty equipment. The machine's operator, Kevin Reilly, had been attempting to lower the main arm to a safety position away from nearby buildings at the time of the accident, and was inside the crane's control cab as it was flipped upside down.
Tagged
bill de blasio
construction accident
crane
crane collapse
mayor de blasio
tribeca
Scott Heins
Scott Heins is a freelance photo and video journalist based in New York City, and a frequent contributor to Gothamist + WNYC. His work often centers around labor rights, housing, and policing. In 2018-2019 he traveled to four states while covering a wave of public school teachers strikes, with work featured in The New York Times, The Intercept, Getty Images, Splinter, and Bloomberg Photos. Scott is a dues-paying member of the National Writers Union's Freelance Solidarity Project.
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