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Deadly 7 Extension And Fatal 2008 UES Crane Collapses Had Same City Inspector
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 7, 2012
Modified Apr 7, 2012
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By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 7, 2012
Modified Apr 7, 2012
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It's bad enough that officials are saying the 170-foot crane that collapsed at the 7 Extension site in Midtown, killing one worker and injuring others on Tuesday night, had a "faulty" hoisting system and other flaws and that the Department of Buildings was supposed to inspect the crane on Thursday. Now the Post reports, "The Buildings Department inspector who never checked the cable that snapped during this week’s fatal crane collapse was also the last city worker to look at the Upper East Side tower crane that killed two people in a 2008 disaster."
At the 7 extension site on 34th Street and 11th Avenue, a cable holding the crane's boom snapped, sending the boom crashing onto the site. Worker Michael Simermeyer, 23, was killed.
The Post further explains that inspector Patrick McGarrigle "has never operated a tower crane. He spent 15 years installing signs and billboards, and had a license to operate a mobile crane, he said in the deposition. He joined the Department of Buildings in 2004, and right away went to work inspecting cranes." McGarrigle tried to inspect the crane in January, but since the crane's boom was in use, another inspection was scheduled for Arril 5. A lawyer representing victims of the 2008 incident told the Post, "To not conduct a test because the crane was in operation is absolutely ridiculous."
It's also been reported that the contractor operated the crane has been accused of mob ties.
Tagged
7 extension
crane boom
crane collapse
department of buildings
fatal crane collapse
midtown
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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