NYC crane collapses at construction site; 7 hurt

http://www.centurylink.net/news/rea...3MVJ683@news.ap.org>&_LT=MNEW_APN1DCCL1_UNEWS

NEW YORK (AP) — With the popping of cables and the snapping of metal, a crane collapsed onto a building under construction near the East River waterfront Wednesday, injuring seven people, three of whom needed to be extricated from underneath the fallen machinery.

The red crane toppled around 2:30 p.m., sprawling across the metal scaffolding and wood planking that made up the first floor skeleton of a residential building in the New York City borough of Queens behind a big neon "Pepsi Cola" sign, a local landmark. Workers putting up the second floor framework scrambled to get out of the way.

"Once that snap came, that was it," said Russell Roberson, 32, of Brooklyn. "I just heard guys yelling, `Run, run!"

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This seems to be happening way too much in NY (it shouldn't happen at all). Do they have a problem with their safety measures/inspectors?

APNewsBreak: Operator cited in NYC crane collapse

http://www.centurylink.net/news/read.php?rip_id=<DA44PSPG3@news.ap.org>&ps=1011

NEW YORK (AP) — A crane operator and a contractor didn't inspect equipment, failed to take proper precautions and ran the rig unsafely before it collapsed while building a New York City apartment tower and injured seven construction workers, officials said Wednesday.

Crane operator Paul Geer and contractor Cross Country Construction LLC have each been cited with five violations stemming from the Jan. 9 collapse, which occurred as the crane tried to lift more than double its capacity, the city Buildings Department said. Geer and the company each face at least $64,000 in fines; the developer and a site safety manager also were cited with a violation apiece.............

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