Manhattan, New York (NewYorkInjuryNews.com)—New York City has a history of fatal crane accidents in 2008, 2 cranes toppled over victimized 9 people and injured 28. These crane breakdowns also damaged nearby apartments, according to New York Times in 2008. The Steel Institute of New York has recently put into effect revised crane safety laws as precautions to protect construction workers as well as pedestrians, reported Courthouse News Service.
Companies that own and operate heavy machinery, especially when using cranes, must abide by the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) http://www.osha.gov/ by turning in their plans if they want to go along with government standards. The Steel Institute claims that New York City did not make an accepted plan in accordance with the OSHA requirements; therefore, the city is handing over the decision- making process to the department supervisor or building administrator, meaning that state law making officials can say whether or not a crane work site environment is safe enough according to their own specifications—other than the OSHA standards, as stated by the Industry.
According to the revised regulations, the use of locomotive, crawler, and truck cranes manufactured after October 2006 were banned from operating within city limits. In response to the public’s complaints about the lack of safety, NYC city Building Division used 4 million dollars to write a High Risk Construction Overseeing plan. After sights put this plan into action, the crane accidents decreased from 8 victims in 2006 to 2 in 2008. The Steel Institute is presently working with attorneys to acquire clarification of legal rights and claims the city did not follow the rules and regulations of the Commerce clauses of the Constitution.
Bridget Hom