Video: Lucky escape as crane topples over

Martin Dingli

Feb 18th 2009, 11:49

Micky Mouse Safety standards. Health and safety there is none

R Muscat

Feb 17th 2009, 20:54

Yet again another accident courtesy of our COWBOY CONTRACTORS when are the authorities going to clamp down on dangerous practices in the construction industry?

J Zahra

Feb 17th 2009, 08:15

I Galea
Cranes have been used in the construction industry for hundred of years and today they are as safe as can be. Rather than stating that they are all dangerous we should consider, as in this accident, that the operator and owner are irresponsible. When driven irresponsibly cars become lethal but that does not mean all cars are unsafe. When a crane is erected in urban areas the jib can travel over neighboring buildings since this poses a danger equal to zero, it’s the load that is illegal to move above other buildings.

Karen Zammit Manduca

Feb 17th 2009, 01:06

Frank Galea & J Borg - Anybody can instruct a lawyer to send a letter to developers insisting they ensure that no tower crane jibs pass over (his) privately owned airspace and the developer has to adhere to this condition.

john fenech

Feb 16th 2009, 22:50

In September 2003
The Occupational Health and Safety Authority commented on the statements issued by the Chamber of Engineers that were carried in the media. The Authority would like to point out that there is a Code of Practice (Code of Practice for the Building and Construction Industry in Malta) issued way back in 1997 that clearly outlines all the points raised in the media release.

Although failure to comply with any provision of this code is not of itself an offence under Act VII of 1994 (which has now been replaced by Act XXVII of 2000), this latter Act clearly states that it is the duty of the employer to ensure the safety and health of all the workers who are carrying out work for that employer, as well as of third parties

The Occupational Health and Safety Authority however fully concords with the Chamber of Engineers’ plight to have hefty penalties meted out to offenders. Having petty fines given to people after a whole judicial process does little to help the OHS cause and definitely does not serve as a deterrent for abuse.

After 5 years was there a change to the above?

Andrew falzon

Feb 16th 2009, 22:41

Ref. @ cynthia busuttil.
Can we ever know the name or number of the policeman whenever we call a police station for a report ? This should be for accountability sake!

lgalea

Feb 16th 2009, 21:25

J Zahra
How were buildings previously built?
They should not be passing over other peoples private property, and not even on public property for that because they are a danger to all who will be under their operating area and more if the topple.

J Martinelli
Surprise inspections are still needed because following the initial inspection the safety devices may still be tampered with.

So yes, certainly do the initial inspections but also surprise inspections.

victor vella

Feb 16th 2009, 20:55

@ Frank Galea, I fully agree with you and I believe you are right.If I remember correctly a contractor was once stopped from passing loads from over a third party property,I believe the incident back in 2000 was in Sliema.But then again living in any place outside Sliema St Julians and Bugibba does not entitle you any protection it seems as even regarding construction tiles in Summer they only apply to these places.Regarding tower cranes these beasts are a beauty to work with but also very dangerous.I sincerely believe that 95% of the operators are not trained properly.

c.t. busuttil

Feb 16th 2009, 18:33

I phoned the police to report workmen repairing a roof boundary wall without any precautions at all, either for themselves or, much less, for anyone below. I was told, "Issa nkelmuhom".

J Zahra

Feb 16th 2009, 18:05

Mr J borg if cranes shouldn’t be allowed to be erected in urban areas then where should they be erected?? Tower Cranes are mostly beneficial in tight urban areas and most of the construction projects in Malta would be rather impossible to accomplish without the aid of a Tower Crane. Most people see tower cranes as a pending disaster, on the contrary tower cranes are very safe...when erected and operated correctly. Rather than stupidly suggesting that tower cranes should not be erected in urban areas, one should think of ways to control who operates and erects these machines.

Joseph Vassallo

Feb 16th 2009, 18:01

Every lifting installation should be inspected and CERTIFIED by qualified government-appointed safety professionals, BEFORE even the first lift is carried out.

The cost of an initial inspections is insignificant compared to the savings made by using a crane on a large project. Far too many installations are made by cowboys or by people who, despite their good intentions are not proficient enough and sometimes have no academic knowledge of physics.

Long term installations should be inspected on a regular basis by same professionals.

Having a few grand to invest in such machinery does not render anyone competent to calculate, install or operate a potentially lethal weapon.

What requirements are there in place vis-a-vis third-party insurance?

J Martinelli

Feb 16th 2009, 17:55

Surprise inspections by the Safety and Health Unit amounts to a hit-and-miss proposition which will not cure the problem. Either each construction site is inspected before work can proceed or one has to rely on the competence of the contractors.

In such incidents an automatic suspension of the contractor's licence should be mandatory until such time that the blame can be placed elsewhere. The complete disregard to human life is inexcusable and Insurance companies should place a rider on a contractor's policy stipulating that not one red eurocent will be paid out if negligence however small, is deemed to have contributed to the accident.

These incidents are happening way too often however the Safety and Health Unit was never intended to be everywhere all the time, therefore very little blame, if any can be pinned on the unit.

frank galea

Feb 16th 2009, 17:34

Once I was told that a crane operator had to ask permission to swing the crane over one's property. if the permission is not granted then the operator cannot pass over your property. is this true?

A Cardona

Feb 16th 2009, 17:32

What a farce. Had someone got seriously injured, the authorities somewhere would have had some explaining to do for the weekly cranes toppling over, but they might as well have remained silent doing nothing as usual.

s.frendo

Feb 16th 2009, 17:30

I have been waiting for such an ccident to happen in fact Iplaced a comment not too long ago regarding this danger. luckily no one was hurt this time round but we cannot always be lucky. more inspections please because familiarity breeds contempt and safety practices become lax with time.

Philip Sultana

Feb 16th 2009, 16:03

And we continue to delude ourselves that we are Europeans? We have so far to go and by the time we think we are there we'll find that the Europeans have progressed even further. Proud to be Maltese? Ashamed to be Maltese!

Vincent Galea

Feb 16th 2009, 15:15

Sister: God's only 'reward' is our thanks for His blessings.

Neville

Feb 16th 2009, 14:52

Where is superman when you need him? Joking apart, just this morning a huge "gaffa" toppled in front of my house and ended up on the pavement. Luckily nobody was hurt. The fact that both these incidents happened on the same day can either be a) a coincidence (since I have observed a higher rate of ongoing road works today) or b) lack of security measures in these cases

E. Azzopardi

Feb 16th 2009, 14:36

Sorry, I have come to the conclusion that although THEY promise us that THEY are there to LISTEN to the poeple , in fact they DO NOT LISTEN at all. And if you tell them this, the poor fellows get upset!! If this is not true, why is it that the same accidents happen over and over again. Exactly, because THEY DO NOT LISTEN. They hear" but do not "listen". I suppose that there are many who do not have a clue of the difference !!!

j borg

Feb 16th 2009, 14:18

Once I checked with a number of authorities who is responsible for giving permission to use tower cranes, even larger than this, within urban areas. Some are use by passing over neighbours' property. No one is responsible. They just drop a Notification Notice at MEPA and pay a fee to the Local Council if this is placed in a street and that's it. Neighbours consent is not even required and then when something goes wrong no one is responsible either! I think that Tower cranes should not be erected within urban areas and should not be allowed to pass over neighbouring property without consent.

Lynn Zahra

Feb 16th 2009, 14:12

The Health and Occupational Safety do not seem to be equipped properly to prevent accidents just waiting to happen. Here at the Ferry in Sliema construction work has started and all that the HSO did was to place notices advising the workmen to wear safety shoes and helmets at all times. There has not been any provision for the safety of pedestrians while commuting towards Tower Road. A warden who would ensure that the workmen did not mingle with the pedestrians and that the contractors' trucks are not parked in the middle of the road would lessen the risk of an accident waiting to happen here.

Herbert Guillaumier

Feb 16th 2009, 14:03

First of all, we must thank God for the near miss. Secondly, we must admit that surprise inspections are not carried out by the Heath and Safety Unit, if this unit ever exists. Thirdly, as L.Galea put it, one must make sure that all working parts are in good working order and not tampered with. The authorites must ensure that safety gear is worn at all times in and around building sites.

L..Galea

Feb 16th 2009, 13:42

When are the authorities going to make it a condition that crane operators have to be specifically licensed and their license states what type of cranes they are licensed to work with and the tonnage of cranes that they can operate? Cranes are fitted with safety cut-out devices so that if the load exceeds the crane's capability with the required safety factor it automatically stops. Are such safety devices regularly checked? Are surprise inspections carried out to ensure that they are not bypassed as is sometimes done in order for the crane to lift more than it should? Are cranes inspected and certified by a certifying agency regularly? Are they insured against all damage caused to third parties? How about revoking for life the license for crane operators and the owners from ever owning a crane if their crane(s) safety devices are found to have been tampered with? How about it OHSA? Are you there?

J Farrugia

Feb 16th 2009, 13:41

As a blanket statement I say that as long as the workers remains irresponsible in their work, there will always be these kind of serious accidents. Let's all thank God that no one was injured. Also, sometimes the elements (like the rain) causes such accidents and such are not the fault of the workers. This is also acceptable. Care ... constant care and attention plus surprise spot checks are one line of action which can be taken to lessen the chances of accidents occurring.

Charles Martin

Feb 16th 2009, 12:27

It is amazing how after several similar incidents no one is taking full rewponsibility for such incidents. What action is the Health and Safety Authority taking to ensure that such incidents do not happen? What action has been taken by police when such incidents occured in the past? It is useless to have a Health and Safety Authority but then no action is taken when such accidents happen. Companies should be held fully responsibile and made to pay for any damage both physical and even psychological that third parties incure.

Can somebody ensure that proper training is given to all management and employees who are responsibile for erecting and working such equipment.

The culture of xejn mhux xejn in this land has to end before it is too late. The H&S Authority is charged with ensuring that such incidents are prevented and need to get their act together to ensure everybodies safety.

Mark Said

Feb 16th 2009, 12:03

Here we go again! When will there be an end to these kinds of accidents at work splashed daily on our newspapers?! Isn't it long due that the Occupational and Health Safety unit show their teeth and truly ensure observance of and compliance with the sundry safety regulations in order to prevent these easily preventable accidents?