Another sobering reminder to all of us operators and riggers out there that following safe operating procedures and inspecting all rigging and equipment before usage is so paramount to the safety of those around us and ourselves the end repercussions and why it is so important to stand up against the Foreman and Super's, who don't want to take that extra 5 minutes to make sure everything is in working order and avoiding catastrophe's such as this... Courtesy of Vertikal.net... Tower crane erector to be charged with Manslaughter January 5, 2009 New York prosecutors are expected to announce manslaughter charges today against the rigger who oversaw the climbing of the tower crane that collapsed, on March 15th last year, killing seven. The rigger, William Rapetti, has also been charged with criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment and second-degree assault for the accident, in which the crane fell across East 51st Street, demolishing one building and causing severe damage to another building on 50th street. The charges — including seven counts each of second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide — are contained in an indictment that is due to be unsealed later today, Rapetti’s company, Rapetti Rigging Services, will also be charged. The information on the charges has been leaked to local newspapers in advance. Rapetti, 48, is due to surrender to police today, according to his lawyer, Arthur L. Aidala, who pointed out that five of the seven people who died were friends and colleagues of his client. Aidala said that he was confident that Rapetti, “an expert in the operation and rigging of tower cranes”, would be cleared. “He did nothing wrong, and operated at that site in a way that is beyond reproach.” The indictment follows an investigation by the office of the Manhattan district attorney and will be the first criminal charges for the three Manhattan tower crane accidents last year. The charges against Rapetti revolve around “reckless and negligent rigging practices,” which caused the failure of four nylon slings that were being used to hold and manoeuvre a tower tie-in collar into place on the crane as it was being raised. It is also claimed that he failed to follow the crane manufacturer’s specification that the collar be supported by eight slings. One sling also had “substantial pre-existing damage, including cuts and severe dislocation” that would have been readily apparent if it had been properly inspected before use. In September, federal regulators accused Rapetti Rigging Services of failing to inspect the slings, remove a defective sling from service, protect the slings and comply with the crane manufacturer’s specifications when raising or lowering the crane. Click here to see earlier reports Rapetti had been cooperating with OSHA’s investigation, according to Aidala, who added that he came from a family of crane operators and had worked on the machines since he was a youth.
Thanks for posting this. I know someones son who perished in that accident, and I was suppose to be working two blocks away that night.
Thanks for the update. Definitely a poignant reality.
Wow, just goes to show that just because it worked fine the last time doesn't mean it will today. Really sad about those guys dying in a preventable accident. Anything on compensation for the families?
There sure seems to be some damming evidence. Its a terrible thing to even contemplate but I have to wonder whether familiarity breeds contempt and working with friends / family long term colleagues is not always the safest if nobody has the ***** to question the operation and proccedures in use.
We all know how lawyers love to lie and exaggerate. And the media knows nothing about equipment. So take everything you hear with a grain of salt.
Thanks for the post guyinthesky. Good read.
I understand what you are saying, But something went tragically wrong. The question is WHAT and WHY.
I couldn't agree more with Buckethead AND AtlasRob... I think the important thing to remember in this situation is lawyers do tend to exaggerate and someone has to pay for what happened, unless one of us was there that day or an investigator I think in respect for our fellow riggers/crane operators judgement be reserved until the evidence is put forward and Rapetti either pleads guilty or the DA proves the allegations. In the meantime we must remember you are innocent until proven guilty...I think in the event of a high profile accident we'd all appreciate the benefit of the doubt. I do not agrue something went wrong...horribly wrong and innocent people are now deceased because of it, but for us to speculate based on the charges of the DA are presumptious and unfair to our fellow OE's...Just my two cents, for what its worth! Cheers Ed
He is responsible for the slings and someone probably already testified in a statement there was a problem with the slind condition. Like many times when something happans the gov. agencies all run and say the site had 20 prevoius violations. We all know on big projects that last multiply years from start to finish 20 citations could be no big deal if not serious violations. No human or collection of humans can run a huge project perfect from start to finish, just impossible. You have something near a laddar base and you can get a housekeeping violation or one guard rail out of hundreds missing. The news they says the site had 20 previous violations and it sounds like the place was running wild like a driver getting 20 tickets. They will all have their time in court. I had a OSHA guy come to my site and write a violaton for a laddar not secured to the scaffold. Idiot was 200 feet from the laddur and ask if it was tied and I said yes with 9 guage wire. He never went and looked but did write the summons :Banghead:Banghead. God Bless all injured and killed.
Hey guys, we can talk about lawyers exagerating, media being clueless about rigs, gov't inspectors, 'till the cows come home. I used to be a crane operator, been there done that, so I have a dog in this fight. As operators, and riggers, our objective should be; not to have an incident for the lawyers and media to feed off of. All machinery accidents can cause property damage and/or loss of life. But when cranes and crane loads drop, it is usually greatly magnified, Big Blue in Milwakee is the perfect example. I did a job at an Air Force base years ago, and there was a sign above one of the entrance doors to an aircraft maintanence hanger that read "Zero Defects". That's all it said. I looked at it, thought about it, and determined it says all that needs to be said. When those guys perform maintanence on those planes they cannot afford even one mistake (defect). The same applies to the operation and rigging of cranes and crane loads, just one defect of operation and rigging can result in serious property damage and/or loss of life. All you crane guys and riggers, just remember, every morning you go to work; Zero Defects.