Updated: Investigation after crane boom collapses at City Gate
Updated 7 p.m.
An investigation is being conducted after a crane boom collapsed whilst lifting concrete at City Gate, Valletta.
The Infrastructure Ministry said the accident happened around 10:45 this morning and the cause is not yet known. No injury or damage was caused as a consequence of the accident apart from the damage suffered by the crane boom.
The crane’s damaged boom is being dismantled because it is considered unsafe, given the weather forecast.
City Gate has been temporarily closed off until the boom is removed.
Pedestrians have been asked to use the access via the Central Bank annex and Castille.
Access to City Gate will be reinstated by late evening.
Picture: Michael Cutajar
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31 Comments
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Ray Pisani
Oct 31st 2012, 21:30
Accidents will always happen unfortunately, what a tragedy it would have been if the crane collapsed smashing Piano's temple to a new government to the ground. Shock Horror!
Anyway we are in Malta and no one is accountable.
This is such a busy pedestrian route that any element of danger should be removed.
Not far off another crane collapsed spilling oil onto the bastion.
Are cranes checked?
B. Storace
Oct 30th 2012, 07:38
City Gate has been temporarily closed off until the boom is removed.
Pedestrians have been asked to use the access via the Central Bank annex and Castille.
Access to City Gate will be reinstated by late evening.
Is this a sign of the times to come? Will this procedure become the norm whenever parliament is in session or when dignitary A or dignitary B happen to be visiting.?
Philip Mizzi
Oct 31st 2012, 07:29
Good point Mr B. Storace. This will make me feel like a second class citizen in my own country! How irritating it would be to be ordered not to use City Gate and having to go round up from Castille whether you like it or not, just because some 'big head' is going to parliament or is coming out of parliament!
I would prefer to live in Zimbabwe if this was to be the case.
fred sammut
Oct 31st 2012, 13:33
kemm ghaditli minn rasi ......
Alex Bugeja
Oct 30th 2012, 00:40
From the photo you can tell that the extendable boom was extended too far out. The way that works is like our arms....your arm can pick 500grams easily and hold it for a long time if you keep your hand at an angle close to your body, but when you extend your hand out fully even a light weight becomes heavy after a little while and you will eventually have to bring your hand down, same with cranes
Andrew Cumbo
Oct 29th 2012, 23:25
With negligence I may understand how a crane can capsize. But to see a boom out of its jib, there is no need of intense investigations. How can boom exceed the jib length? Were the Boom extension and load radius indicators fully operational? Have been the safety alarms checked with an adequate check list before starting the day of work? We shall call it a day and thank god.
N. Montanaro
Oct 29th 2012, 22:47
Just to let you know, 8 people died while building the Vegas City Centre, just recently between 2008 and 2009... so if you make like with like we're still so much better!!! :) yes, it may be a smaller scale when compared, but 0 deaths in ratio is always much better than any number no?...
Why do we always have to be so negative about ANYTHING????
R. Farrugia
Oct 30th 2012, 12:04
Because a near miss should be taken seriously as much as a fatal accident - SIMPLY to avoid others happening. In such way lives are saved and a healthier / less fatal work environment is guaranteed. If we take it any lighter, next time round there will be deaths! That's what learning from mistakes and H&S is all about!
David Pace
Oct 29th 2012, 22:41
Safety or at least the lack of enforcement of it is really a dangerous joke in Malta, heads should role for this fiasco !!
J Martinelli
Oct 29th 2012, 20:25
In the meantime, in NY City, same type of crane boom fell on townhouses below, killed four and injured 10 and destroyed a bar which luckily was vacant at the time.
Accidents happen anywhere, anytime, that's why they're called 'accidents'. Haste is not a factor. Cranes that size shouldn't be operated in unfavourable weather such as high winds because it doesn't take much to unbalance them.
R. Farrugia
Oct 30th 2012, 12:08
Do you really believe whatever you type? - Accidents don't just happen, they are caused! And going through your last sentence, cranes should not be operated in unfavourable weather... THEN IT'S NOT AN ACCIDENT IT'S NEGLIGENCE! Crane operators are called so because they are aware of how the machinery operates and how it should be operated!
J Martinelli
Oct 30th 2012, 14:26
R FarrugIn, in a perfect world you are 100% right.
In a perfect world no accidents are ever caused.
In a perfect world no one makes mistakes.
In a perfect world high cranes should be dismantled ahead of storms.
Unfortunately we do not live in a perfect world and accidents happen, caused negligently or not, by bad decisions, bad driving, substance abuse etc. Human errors are hard to prevent.
Elton Mifsud
Oct 29th 2012, 19:16
Il-qattusa ghaggelija frieh ghomja taghmel !
Fran Abela
Oct 29th 2012, 15:36
The most important thing is that no one was injured. I just cannot understand some of the 'funny' comments - poor guys - get a life.
Peter Murray
Oct 29th 2012, 16:58
That no one was injured is important but should pure luck play any part .What I cannot understand is the immense lack of health and safety regulations being adhered too with no one taking responsibility for such .Crane booms don't just collapse unless overloaded or used incorrectly and when was the crane -or the crane operator- last thoroughly examined?
Conrad Costa
Oct 29th 2012, 23:29
@Peter Murray
it never ceases to amaze me how quickly people can jump to certain conclusions sometimes: "overloaded", "used incorrectly", "[not] thoroughly examined"...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-20124459
may i have you know, sometimes accidents ...brance yourselves... can even happen beyond Maltese waters
;)
Lucienne Dimech
Oct 29th 2012, 15:24
As unstable as parliament itself. Only more dangerous
John Cassar
Oct 29th 2012, 15:22
Once again , local contractors are only intersted in their operational bottom margin.
How many times do they carry out site inspections on their heavy plant equipment ? The authorities should introduce stringent regulations to curb such incidents and abuses , Log Books with updated records shoulkd be kept in the Site Office for review by the inspectors
Angelo Polidano
Oct 29th 2012, 15:56
The stringent regulations are probably there, its the people to enforce them who are not there. Does anybody care?
Jesmond Chetcuti
Oct 29th 2012, 15:21
a strange accident to happen on a site where H&S procedures are of the utmost importance...luckily no one got injured ,but still, someone need to respond of why this accident happen...it is clear that the crane wasnt in perfect condition and shouldnt have been allowed to operate....
paul camilleri
Oct 29th 2012, 14:42
could be but i think its an angel from heaven making sure the crane does not hurt anyone
Peter Shaw
Oct 29th 2012, 14:38
The boom made a huge boom!!
paul camilleri
Oct 29th 2012, 14:33
not so funny Mr Fenech. but wonders what or who is responsable for that boom to have been extended at its utmost length and allowing it to come completly out of the other extension arm????
Alfred Fenech
Oct 29th 2012, 14:29
Ha ha ha !!!!
Gina bugeja
Oct 29th 2012, 14:52
This is not a joke.Anyone could have been hurt!!
Gina bugeja
Oct 29th 2012, 14:53
This is not a joke.anyone could have been hurt!
Fran Abela
Oct 29th 2012, 15:34
Laughing Mr. Fenech - people could have been injured in this accident. What a warped mentality you have and how sorry I am for you as you seem to be one heck of an unhappy man to take pleasure in accidents.
Samuel Cachia
Oct 29th 2012, 14:13
Is that lesser bat flying in the Air!
Dave Mifsud
Oct 29th 2012, 14:07
Is it Batman I see flying away from the crane???
Andrew Grech
Oct 29th 2012, 14:43
Must be !! Looks like it :)
james macdonald
Oct 29th 2012, 15:18
LOL
Please choose the reason of your report below: